Major milestone in delivering faster access to care
Patients will have access to GP-led care on the same day without an appointment as the First Minister opens the first of a new network of walk-in services.The new services will make it easier for people to get urgent care for medical issues while easing pressure on GP practices and hospitals.
The Scottish Government is investing £36 million into a pilot programme which will see a further 14 services established across Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney has opened the country’s first GP walk-in clinic at Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, marking a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to strengthen primary care.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Swinney said: “I know how important access to urgent medical care is for people, and how important it is for people to get the right care, in the right place at the right time.
“Our network of walk-in GP-led services will ensure people get the care they need at a time that works for them – and opening this first clinic is a major milestone as we continue to deliver trusted leadership for our health service.
“Open seven days per week from 12pm-8pm, these walk-in clinics will deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments, making it easier than ever for people to access urgent care when they need it most.
“With GP numbers up, long waits down, record numbers of hip and knee operations and 15 new walk-in GP clinics opening in Scotland, it is clear we are making progress in our NHS – and I am determined that we will continue to drive forward improvements.”
Tracey McKigen, Director of Primary Care for NHS Lothian, said: “We are proud to be launching this pilot service in collaboration with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership.
“It will add to the range of health services in Wester Hailes and make it easier for local patients registered with eight eligible GP practices in southwest Edinburgh to get same day care for new, urgent conditions.”
The walk-in clinic at Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre is open every day from 12 noon to 8pm with no appointment needed.
During the pilot phase, the service is available to patients registered with a group of local GP practices in southwest Edinburgh.
Depending on clinical need, patients may see a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner.
MSPs, brain tumour patients and families who have lost loved ones are marking the first anniversary of Scotland’s first research centre dedicated to brain tumours, established to accelerate the search for new treatments for the most aggressive forms of the disease.
Working collaboratively, they are focused on identifying the most promising new treatments for glioblastoma – an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer with an average prognosis of 12 to 18 months.
Far too often, innovative ideas in the lab fail to make it to the clinic, so over its first year, the Centre has focused on building the foundations needed to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into potential new treatments. This has included developing more advanced laboratory models to better understand glioblastoma and test new therapeutic approaches – including gene therapy.
Among those marking the Centre’s first anniversary is Shetland Islands MSP Beatrice Wishart, who has long campaigned for improved research and awareness following her daughter Louise Fraser’s diagnosis with a brain tumour in 2012.
Since then, Beatrice has used her platform in both her constituency and at Holyrood to highlight the urgent need for earlier diagnosis, better access to treatment, and increased investment in research for brain tumours.
Beatrice, who is also Convener of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Brain Tumours, said: “It’s been a very quick year, and I’m really pleased to see the progress that has already been made in understanding and tackling brain tumours.
“There is a clear emphasis on the importance of sustainable funding and the difference it can make for people across Scotland.
“Through the Cross-Party Group, we have been pressing the Health Secretary on access to research trials and new treatments, and it has been a very positive and proactive group to be part of.
“I see that work as complementary to everything being done at the Scottish Centre of Excellence, and together it gives real momentum to efforts to improve outcomes for patients and families.”
Following her diagnosis, Louise Fraser underwent neurosurgery followed by radiotherapy, and her tumour is now monitored through regular scans.
Beatrice, Louise and their family have raised more than £36,500 for Brain Tumour Research through a range of fundraising and awareness activities, including Wear a Hat Day events at Holyrood, community fundraising in Shetland, and participation in running challenges such as the Edinburgh Half Marathon.
Much of this recent fundraising was carried out in memory of Louise’s husband, Kris Fraser, who died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage in September 2024. Louise and her children – Eve, Kieran and Leighton – took part in the Edinburgh Half Marathon in his memory, with several tiles on the Centre’s Wall of Hope dedicated to Kris.
“It was a very emotional day, particularly as the fundraising has been carried out in memory of my husband, Kris, who was very much at the forefront of my mind,” Louise said.
“I wanted to do something positive with our children following his death, and fundraising for this charity felt like the right way to honour him while supporting a cause that means so much to our family. It’s reassuring to see where the money we’ve raised is going and how Brain Tumour Research is using those funds to support the search for kinder, more effective treatments.
“I hope that the work being done here will mean that, in the future, other families won’t have to go through what we did.”
Also reflecting on the anniversary is Jonny Charles, whose mum Fiona, a retired primary school teacher from Aberdeen, was diagnosed with glioblastoma after months of unexplained symptoms in 2024. Fiona underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy following her diagnosis but sadly died in December 2025. Jonny has since spoken about the devastating reality of glioblastoma and the profound impact it has on patients and families.
Jonny said: “Visiting the Centre on its one-year anniversary was very meaningful, and the lab tour itself was incredibly well organised and genuinely fascinating. What stood out most was the passion and determination of the people leading the work — it was clear that everyone involved is deeply committed to making progress and finding better ways to tackle brain tumours.
“Seeing the work first-hand helped make it clear where fundraising and donations are being directed, and why that support is so important. It was striking to be reminded that treatment options for glioblastoma have changed very little over the past 20 years, which really underlines the need for continued focus and investment.
“I hope the work being done here helps move treatments forward and gives future families better options and clearer answers.”
Bringing together a large multidisciplinary group of glioblastoma researchers from across Scotland, the Scottish Centre of Excellence was established to bridge the gap between promising scientific discoveries and real-world patient benefit, from laboratory to bedside.
Professor Steven Pollard, Co-Director of the Centre, said: “Our priority now is to strengthen the connection between scientific discovery and clinical trials, so that promising new ideas can be developed into treatments that are ready to be tested in patients.
“We know the clinical teams in Edinburgh and Glasgow are ready to evaluate new therapies, and our focus is on building the expertise and infrastructure needed to move new aproaches, including innovative medicines and gene therapy, through to that stage more effectively.
“By doing this, we hope not only to progress our own research, but also to work more closely with industry and other partners to increase the number of treatment options available to people affected by brain tumours.”
A partnership of 17 leading Scottish mental health organisations is hosting a special online Hustings event to ensure that mental health is at the top of the political agenda ahead of the Scottish elections in May.
Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership will host the online Mental Health Hustings event on Monday 9th March between 1pm and 2.30pm.
The Hustings event will be an opportunity to hear Scotland’s political leaders discuss mental health, along with answering questions from attendees during a time when mental health has never mattered more.
Political leaders will detail their vision for the nation’s mental health and their plans to reform society to improve wellbeing for all.
Speakers will come from five Scottish political parties:
SNP – Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing
Conservatives – Brian Whittle MSP, Spokesperson on Mental Wellbeing
Labour – Paul Sweeney MSP, Spokesperson on Mental Health
Greens – Gillian Mackay MSP, Party Co-Leader and Spokesperson on Health and Social Care
Lib Dems – Councillor Sally Pattle, Spokesperson on Mental Health
The Mental Health Hustings is a chance for people to engage with those responsible for shaping Scotland’s future.
Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership announced its manifesto late last year, ‘Scotland’s Mental Health: It’s Time For Action’, which presses the Scottish Government to address the current crisis and transform the country’s mental health in the longer term.
The manifesto states that mental health services are struggling to cope with an unprecedented increase in demand, with no corresponding increase in funding or resource, and a burnt-out workforce that is collectively creating a spike in waiting lists for support and treatment.
It has also expressed the need for commitment around increasing resources for early intervention and preventing, along with a choice of support, care and treatment in the right place and at the right time.
Other recommendations revolve around the Partnership’s 3Ps framework – Promote, Prevent and Provide – to tackle the mental health emergency.
Gordon Johnson, Policy Lead for Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership, said:“Mental health really has never mattered more. There is a mental health emergency in Scotland, and we need bold and decisive action to ensure that this crisis is addressed.
“The Hustings is an opportunity for people to have their voice heard – whether you’re a person with lived experience, working in mental health, a campaigner or someone who cares about Scotland’s future.
“Scotland needs radical change. That starts will voices in the room. We look forward to this conversation between attendees and speakers at the Hustings, and we will work hard to ensure that mental health is at the top of the political agenda ahead of this election and beyond.”
Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership (SMHP) is made up of seventeen (17) professional bodies and mental health third sector organisations.
Our members represent, among others, those with lived experience, providers, clinical professionals, carers, community support networks and the wider third sector. Each organisation contributes its direct experience and unique perspective to create an informed collective voice on mental health.
The Partnership was developed out of a collective desire to offer new perspectives and a progressive vision for mental health in Scotland. It is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of people across Scotland and, in line with the Christie Commission recommendations, promote the prevention of mental health issues and early intervention where problems do arise.
Further details can be found on our website: www.smhp.scot.
In the weeks before the final vote in the Scottish Parliament on Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, new findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey show that an overwhelming majority of Scots (81%) support assisted dying for terminally ill people.
The report notes that the public has long been in support of a change in the law, and that this support remains unchanged despite the intensive debate regarding the issue over the last year.
Ally Thomson, Director of Dignity in Dying Scotland, said: “These findings are a powerful reminder that the Scottish public has long supported giving dying people the choice and control they desperately need, and that this support has not wavered despite intense scrutiny and debate.
“Without a change in the law terminally ill Scots facing a bad death are forced to contemplate a series of desperate decisions, from trying to go to Switzerland, stopping eating and drinking, taking matters into their own hands in lonely and often brutal ways, or suffering against their will. The most dangerous thing the Parliament can do here is nothing and allow this situation to persist.
“When MSPs voted in favour of Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying Bill at Stage 1 last year, they gave dying Scots and those who had watched a loved one suffer real hope that such suffering will be consigned to the past.
“It’s clear that the public expect the Scottish Parliament to deliver on this issue and pass the Bill next month.”
Emma Cooper, Convenor, Friends at the End (FATE) said: ““It is very clear that there is sustained, overwhelming public support from Scottish people for assisted dying to be introduced in Scotland.
“No one should have to endure a bad death because the law has failed to provide a compassionate choice.
“Too many people have suffered and seen loved ones suffer unnecessarily.
“MSPs should listen to the will of the people and pass this deeply considered and highly safeguarded legislation, rather than listening to misleading information perpetuated by a few loud and misrepresentative voices.”
TWO directors who lead the Specsavers Home Visits team across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders both celebrate major career milestones this year, marking a cumulative 35 years with Specsavers caring for the eyesight of local communities across Scotland.
Home Visits partner Lynne Seebaluck began her optical career as an optical assistant for Specsavers in East Kilbride, qualifying as a dispensing optician before moving to the Specsavers store in Bellshill as a retail manager.
At the store, Lynne completed an ILM management course, as well as her Hearing Aid Audiology diploma, moving onto an audiology role as well as store manager.
Lynne became a partner at the Edinburgh Home Visits team in 2022 and brought her experiences, particularly in audiology, to the team – mentoring several team members through their own audiology qualifications.
Reflecting on the past 20 years, Lynne says: ‘I have had such a varied career with Specsavers and there are so many people to thank for making my career such a rewarding one.
“From the directors I’ve worked for over the years, to the great teams I have worked with, even my husband David, who also works for Specsavers.
‘Since I joined as the partner for the Home Visits team, it’s been incredible being able to pay a visit to so many amazing customers. They are so grateful for the service, and they always have super stories to share.
“I’d also like to thank our incredible team of opticians, optical assistants, dispensing opticians, schedulers and audiologists. All of them are amazing and help us to provide the best care to the communities we work in.’
Fellow partner Laura Owens also marks a milestone of 15 years, starting her Specsavers career in a frontline customer service role before progressing through roles such as optical assistant and into a variety of leadership and managements positions.
She joined the Home Visits team back in 2022 and now serves as customer service director for the business, with a strong focus on team wellbeing and patient care at the heart of her day-to-day.
Laura says: ‘My journey with Specsavers has been both rewarding and transformative. I love that we’re not just delivering eye care and audiology services, we’re making a real difference in people’s lives and delivering total care, especially in the home visits space where many of our patients are vulnerable or isolated.
‘Hitting this milestone, I’m also very excited about continuing to shape the future of our Home Visits team. My focus is on driving awareness and making eye and ear care more accessible to those who need it, while ensuring our teams feel supported and empowered.
She adds: ‘I’d like to thank my incredible team both past and present for their dedication, resilience, and heart. Every success we’ve had is a reflection of their hard work and compassion. It’s truly a privilege to be part of a business that truly puts people first.’
The Eric Liddell Community’s manifesto sets out five crucial priorities to support the estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland
Edinburgh based care and specialist dementia charity, The Eric Liddell Community, has launched its 2026 Manifesto, ‘Priorities and evidence-based recommendations for the next Scottish Parliament’, setting out five urgent priorities to better support people living with dementia, unpaid carers, volunteers, and the communities that rely on them.
With an estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, The Eric Liddell Community says the gap between the vision and commitments made in policy are very different from reality. There are rising costs, reduced statutory funding and an increase in demand for these services due to an ageing population, putting immense pressure on charities.
Founded over 45 years ago, The Eric Liddell Community has long supported people living with dementia and their carers, and is now calling on political parties, candidates and policymakers to recognise voluntary organisations as essential partners in addressing societal challenges and delivering services that communities rely on.
“We ask to be recognised, not as a ‘nice to have’, but as a lifeline for many.”
Irene Adams OBE, Chair of The Eric Liddell Community, comments:“Every day we see the difference that care, compassion, and community make to people living with dementia and also to the unpaid carers volunteering their time.
“This means we also see the consequences when we are underfunded and under supported. We urge all Scottish parties to listen to their communities and work with the third sector by turning policy into reality for people who most need the support.”
While Scotland is recognised for its progression with dementia policy, The Eric Liddell Community states that not enough people are able to access these dementia services and support. In addition, 37% of the Scottish adult population (1.7 million people) have provided unpaid care at some point in their lives. The value of this support totals £15.9 billion each year.
The manifesto is built upon 5 urgent priorities for the next Scottish Government, turn policy dementia into reality, take immediate action to address the third sector funding crisis, deliver unpaid carers a legal right to breaks in practice, ensure social care reform improves real experiences and value the importance of volunteers.
To read the full Eric Liddell Community Manifesto for 2026, please visit:Manifesto.
John MacMillan MBE, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, added:“Our work shows the powerful impact that care and strong community support can make on the growing dementia challenge in Scotland.
“We see the real struggle caused by underfunding and lack of support and hope the Scottish parties will work with the third sector to deliver support where it is most needed.”
The Eric Liddell Community supports thousands of people each year with befriending services, carer’s programmes and a community filled with volunteer-led activities. Their mission is to bring people together in their local communities and have a positive impact on their lives.
To find out more about The Eric Liddell Community please visit: ericliddell.org
Work on safety measures at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) will be monitored by a new group made up of key infection control experts, whistleblowers and patients.
The move was announced by Health Secretary Neil Gray following evidence heard during the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which was set up after a number of deaths and high levels of infection at the hospital prompted concerns about patient safety.
The Group will be co-chaired by Sir Lewis Ritchie – the Sir James Mackenzie Professor of General Practice at the University of Aberdeen – and Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
During his statement, the Health Secretary made clear that the work of this Group will not interfere with Lord Brodie’s independent inquiry and will make use of external independent scrutiny from Healthcare Improvement Scotland and NHS Assure. Lord Brodie is expected to deliver his report later this year.
Mr Gray has also confirmed that all material relevant to the Inquiry was provided.
Mr Gray said: “I want to again recognise the profound distress experienced by patients, by grieving families, and by staff who have been impacted by the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.
“For many, the recent Inquiry hearings looking into the evidence relating to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, have reopened longstanding and deeply painful wounds. My thoughts remain with all those affected.
“Our priority is to ensure that patients, families, staff and the public have full confidence in the safety of facilities and the environment in which services are delivered within the QEUH and RHC today.
“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will, from today, establish a high‑level Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group which will be co-chaired by Sir Lewis Ritchie – who has a very strong reputation in providing external leadership and scrutiny across the NHS – and the Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Professor Jann Gardener.
“The Group will also stand ready to implement the findings from the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. Enhanced reporting will be established with the Scottish Government who will provide scrutiny, challenge and support to the delivery of NHS GGC’s programme of work.
“All material relevant to the Inquiry has been preserved and submitted as evidence. Scottish Government officials are now examining how the documents referred to by the motion voted on by Parliament can be released safely and lawfully.
“This will see NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde taking significant, immediate steps to strengthen public confidence in the safety of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children.”
Patients will receive faster diagnosis, quicker treatment, and the support to live well with cancer under the UK government’s landmark new National Cancer Plan
NATIONAL CANCER PLAN FOR ENGLAND
75% of patients diagnosed from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well after five years, following record investment in the NHS
NHS to meet all cancer waiting time standards by 2029, with hundreds of thousands more patients treated within 62 days
Major expansion of robot-assisted surgery and faster diagnostics to slash delays Patients will receive faster diagnosis, quicker treatment, and the support to live well with cancer under the government’s landmark National Cancer Plan, unveiled today.
For the first time, the NHS will commit to ensuring three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards are cancer-free or living well after five years.
This represents the fastest rate of improvement in cancer outcomes this century and will translate to 320,000 more lives saved over the lifetime of the plan.
The NHS has not met its central cancer performance target - that 85% of patients start treatment within 62 days of referral - since 2014. Survival rates are below Romania and Poland for some cancer types.
Under this plan, that will change – by March 2029, the NHS will meet all three cancer waiting time standards, meaning hundreds of thousands more patients will receive timely treatment. This demonstrates the real change being delivered by the government’s record investment as we rebuild the NHS.
60% of patients currently survive for 5 years or more and around 2.4m people are currently living after a cancer diagnosis.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Cancer survival shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life. But cancer is more likely to be a death sentence in Britain than other countries around the world.
As a cancer survivor who owes my life to the NHS, I owe it to future patients to make sure they receive the same outstanding care I did.
Thanks to the revolution in medical science and technology, we have the opportunity to transform the life chances of cancer patients. Our cancer plan will invest in and modernise the NHS, so that opportunity can be seized and our ambitions realised.
This plan will slash waits, invest in cutting-edge technology, and give every patient the best possible chance of beating cancer.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “Almost everyone will know someone who has been affected by cancer – a friend, a partner, a parent or a child – and for many people it will be part of their own story too.
“This plan sets a clear roadmap for the NHS to diagnose more cancers earlier, ensure more patients are treated on time and improve survival, so that hundreds of thousands more people live longer, healthier lives with or after cancer over the next decade.
“This is alongside delivering the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment and care to every corner of the country, improving access to pioneering trials and ensuring there is wraparound support for people closer to home.
“The National Cancer Plan will see the NHS deliver world-class cancer care, offering renewed hope for millions and ensuring the health service is there for patients whenever they need it.”
Gemma Peters, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It’s encouraging to see such bold survival ambitions in the National Cancer Plan for England.
“This comes at a time when people living with cancer tell us all too often that their care hasn’t been good enough, from long waits for tests and treatment to being left without the support they need once treatment ends.
“This Plan has the potential to transform care for people living with cancer, ensuring people not only live longer but live better with their diagnosis. We look forward to working with the government to make this vision a reality: adding life to years, as well as years to life.”
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “The publication of the National Cancer Plan for England represents a significant commitment by the UK government to treat cancer with the seriousness it deserves.
“Across England, too many cancer patients are waiting too long to start treatment, so it’s important that the UK government has committed to meeting cancer waiting time targets by 2029. A wide range of measures will be needed for these to be met.
“In addition to this, it’s promising to see the government’s ambitious commitment to saving more lives from cancer. England lags behind comparable countries on cancer survival and it’s vital that this changes, so more people affected by cancer can live longer, better lives.”
Chris Walden, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer52, said: “For the first time, an England cancer plan includes a specific focus on rare and less common cancers.
“This is a step change; the needs of our community have been heard. We welcome the government’s response to our calls to switch gear on improving diagnosis, increasing research and introducing leadership so that rare and less common cancers have parity.
“Now the changes outlined in the Plan, and the Rare Cancers Bill, have to be implemented in full. They have the potential to make a real difference to the lives of people living with a rare and less common cancer now and in the future.”
Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s, said: “If we are to usher in a new era of world-leading cancer care that is truly catered to the needs of people with cancer, it is vital that the right practical and emotional support is provided to help people manage and live with cancer.
“That’s why we are really pleased to see the government recognise the need to improve support for people at every stage of cancer and acknowledge that the challenges of cancer don’t end when treatment ends.
“We warmly welcome the introduction of the new target and look forward to working with the government and the NHS to ensure people can live well with cancer.
“At Maggie’s, we believe that with the right support, people can live full, productive lives with and beyond cancer. While the number of people diagnosed cancer is only going to rise, more people are surviving than ever before or living for many years as medical advancements effectively keeping cancer at bay.”
The plan sets out sweeping reforms to how cancer is diagnosed and treated:
Faster diagnostics: A £2.3 billion investment will deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029 -investing in more scanners, digital technology and automated testing. Where possible, Community Diagnostic Centres will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week, bringing testing closer to where people live.
Robot-assisted surgery: From hip replacements to heart surgery and cancer operations, the number of robot-assisted procedures will increase from 70,000 to half a million by 2035, reducing complications and freeing up hospital beds.
Treatment at specialist centres: More patients with rarer cancers will have their care reviewed and treated at specialist cancer centres, where they can benefit from the expertise of the best cancer doctors. These centres bring together surgeons, oncologists, specialist nurses and radiologists to agree the best treatment plan for each case.
Genomic testing: Every patient who could benefit will be offered a test that analyses the DNA of their cancer. This helps doctors understand exactly the type of cancer someone has and choose treatments most likely to work for them.
Waiting lists: New technology is being developed to give patients better access to tests for cancer by offering them the earliest available appointment from a range of NHS organisations in their local area.
The UK government has also announced a new AI pilot to help detect hard-to-reach lung cancers sooner with fewer invasive tests as well as a new employer partnership to support England’s 830,000 working-age cancer patients to remain in employment during and after treatment.
While more people survive cancer than ever before, progress has slowed over the last decade, and England remains behind other comparable countries including Australia and Denmark. For some cancers, such as brain cancer, survival rates in England trail behind countries like Croatia and Romania.
The cancer plan comes as the government continues to make strides on cancer waiting lists, diagnosing or ruling out cancer on time for 213,000 extra cases since July last year.
One hundred and seventy community diagnostic centres are now open – with over 100 of them available at evenings and weekends – bringing checks, scans and tests closer to where people live and at times that work around them.
The UK government is also taking tough action on the causes on cancer: introducing a generational ban on smoking and a ban on junk food ads before 9pm.
Up to £20 million made available to boards to boost progress
Waiting lists continue to fall in Scotland with waits over 52 weeks reducing for 7 months in a row.
New figures from Public Health Scotland show at 31 December 2025 new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks had reduced by 15.4% when compared to November 2025. These waits have reduced every month since July 2025 with total waits over 52 weeks down by 40.1% in that period.
The data also shows long waits for inpatient and daycase procedures have fallen every month since July 2025, with 52 week waits decreasing by 23.9% in that period.
New operation statistics also show an increase in activity in the last year – between January 2025 and December 2025 the number of operations carried out increased by 5.6% compared to the same period the year before. A total of 274,638 procedures were carried out in this period.
To further build on this progress, extra funding of up to £20 million is being made available to health boards for the current year.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “These latest figures show our plan is delivering for the people of Scotland and our NHS has turned a corner – we are seeing sustained progress in reducing waiting times with activity also increasing compared to last year.
“Thousands more appointments, operations and procedures are being delivered this year and we are determined to continue to build on this momentum, ensuring people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.
“We are seeing downward trends across nearly all waiting list indicators which shows our targeted investment this year is having a real impact on people’s lives. None of this would be possible without out hard-working NHS staff and I want to thank each and every one of them for the progress they are delivering.”
