THE Health Secretary has said the SNP’s plan for NHS recovery “is delivering” after new figures showed a key target had been exceeded.
In April 2024, targeted funding of £30 million was announced for “specialty areas where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits – this includes cancer, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, dermatology and diagnostics”.
The SNP Government said it hoped that the funding could help NHS health boards to deliver 40,000 diagnostic procedures, 12,000 surgeries, and 12,000 new outpatient appointments by March 2025.
On Thursday, Health Secretary Neil Gray announced that the target had been exceeded overall, and Scottish NHS boards had reported “delivery of 75,500 appointments and procedures”.
However, shortfalls in outpatient appointments and surgeries were more than made up for by the number of diagnostic procedures completed.
SNP MSP Emma Harper had asked the Government for an update “on the progress and impact of the £30 million allocated in 2024-25 to reduce NHS waiting times”.
On Thursday, Gray responded: “NHS Boards have exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures in 2024-25, funded through our additional investment of £30m to drive action to address the longest waits.
“To the end of January 2025, boards are reporting delivery of 75,500 appointments and procedures, as follows:
- Over 9800 of 12,000 new outpatient appointments
- Almost 9200 of 12,000 surgeries delivered
- And almost 56,500 diagnostic procedures delivered, exceeding the original plan to deliver 40,000 by 41%
“Funding was targeted in specialties including ophthalmology, orthopaedics, urology, diagnostics, and cancer.”
He added: “Since April 2024, Scottish Government has been closely monitoring progress and impact and will continue to do so until the end of March 2025.”
After releasing the figures, Gray said: “I am pleased to see health boards are now reporting the tangible impacts of our investment to clear the longest waits. Our plan is delivering and we are seeing progress across a number of speciality areas. I thank staff for their outstanding effort in carrying out this additional activity which is having a positive impact on people’s lives.
“This is a good start, however, we know many people are still waiting too long. We are determined to do more and our 2025-26 Budget, with cross-party support now agreed, will provide a record £21.7 billion for health – including £200m to help clear waiting list backlogs, improve capacity and reduce delayed discharge.
“This record funding will help us ensure no one waits more than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment or inpatient/daycase treatment by March 2026.
“We will also deliver over 150,000 extra appointments and procedures in the coming year which will ensure people receive the care they need as quickly as possible.”
