New figures show the number of operations carried out in the 12
months to April 2026 increased by 7.3% compared to the same
period the year before.
New statistics from Public Health Scotland show a total of
281,115 operations were performed during the last 12 months,
while 770 operations were carried out per day - an increase from
718 for year ending April 2025.
The increase in activity comes as latest waiting times statistics
show new outpatient waits of over a year have decreased for 11
consecutive months and inpatient and daycase waits over a year
reducing for 15 months in a row.
This is in addition to new figures which show Scottish Government
pledges on extra appointments have been surpassed - the promise
to provide 150,000 additional appointments last year has been
exceeded, with latest data showing 168,177 additional
appointments and procedures were carried out in the financial
year up to March 2026 compared to same period in the previous
year.
In the first 9 months of 2025-26, 34,089 procedures were carried
out in National Treatment Centres, surpassing the commitment to
see planned activity increasing to over 30,000.
Health Secretary said:
“I am pleased to see sustained and continued improvement in the
number of operations carried out. Coupled with our continued
progress to reduce waiting times, these latest figures show our
plan is delivering for Scotland.
“I thank all NHS staff for their continued hard work and
dedication – teams all across the country are driving this
progress.
“We have delivered on our pledge to provide 150,000 additional
appointments last year and our NTCs activity has surpassed our
target already this year – our NHS is turning a corner and we are
determined to build on this progress and ensure people are
receiving the treatment they need as soon as possible.”
Background
Cancelled Planned Operations
statistics
Stage of Treatment Waiting
Times
Acute Beds activity
