Reducing long waits for NHS treatment in Scotland is the focus of
the government's new £90 million investment in planned care.
First Minister said substantial progress had
been made in the past year but the government remains focused on
accelerating delivery to eradicate long waits for good.
Visiting the National Treatment Centre in Fife, Mr Swinney
announced the additional funding for health boards to spend
directly on bringing down outpatient waiting lists and for
scheduled operations and procedures such as hip and knee
replacements.
The First Minister said:
Over the past year we have seen long waits falling with new
outpatient waits over 52 weeks reducing for 12 months
in a row. Our network of National Treatment Centres have
been key to this success with thousands more procedures taking
place.
The direction of travel is positive, but there is more work to do
- I am determined that ending long waits for NHS treatment will
be my government's lasting legacy.
This dedicated funding of £90 million will support those waiting
the longest for treatment and help to create more capacity
within our wider healthcare system. I am confident we will
continue to see long waits reduce but I need our health boards
focused on accelerating progress.
People can expect delivery with my government. I have been clear
with health boards that I will expect to see month-on-month
reductions on the back of this new investment.
This investment supports our commitment to building an NHS fit
for the future. Initiatives including GP walk-in services and
Hospital at Home are expanding access so patients receive the
right care, in the right place, at the right time. We have also
committed to publishing a new hospital flow plan during our first
100 days in office.
Chief Executive of NHS Fife added:
"The National Treatment Centre in Fife is helping transform
access to planned care, having delivered more than 2,550
operations and supported nearly 15,700 outpatient appointments in
2025/26. With high theatre utilisation, shorter hospital stays
and most patients returning home within a day, our teams are
making a real difference for patients across Scotland. This
additional investment will help us continue to work towards
reducing waiting times and help us treat more people, sooner."
