Health Secretary comments on latest
data.
Health Secretary has commented on the
latest suite of acute hospital performance statistics published
today by Public Health Scotland.
The statistics show:
- In 2025-26, there were just under 1.2 million admissions into
hospital and just over 1.3 million total procedures performed.
The National Treatment Centres carried out 45,798 procedures in
2025-26, nearly double compared to the previous year.
- In 2025-26, the percentage occupancy for acute specialty beds
decreased to 88.5% from 88.9%.
- In August 2026, there were 107,785 new outpatient
attendances, an increase of 4.1% compared to July 2026. In the 12
months to August 2026, waits over 52 weeks have reduced by 77%
and the overall waiting list has reduced by 11.1%.
- In August 2026, there were 23,185 inpatient and day case
admissions, an increase of 0.2% compared to July 2026. In the 12
months to August 2026, waits over 52 weeks have reduced by 49.2%
and have now reduced for 19 consecutive months.
- In the second quarter of 2026, 94.8% of patients started
cancer treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat and 73.6%
of patients started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent
suspicion of cancer referral.
- Between May and July 2026, Hospital at Home services
continued to grow across Scotland, with 48 services accepting
over 8,400 patients, an increase of 28% since November 2025.
Health Secretary said:
These figures illustrate that our exceptional NHS workforce is
treating more people across Scotland and making clear progress in
reducing the longest waits. This is supported by targeted
Scottish Government investment to build more capacity in the
system.
Our National Treatment Centres carried out nearly double the
number of procedures in 2025-26 compared to the previous year,
reflecting their critical role in reducing waiting times. In the
12 months to August 2026, outpatient waits over a year have
reduced by 77% and inpatient and day case waits have reduced by
49.2%.
In cancer services, the NHS is treating more patients in Scotland
compared to pre-pandemic and 10 years ago - with the median wait
from decision to treat to first cancer treatment just two days.
However, I am clear we can and must do more to tackle waits and
use every inch of capacity in our NHS to ensure patients get the
care they need, when they need it.
We are investing an additional £90 million of Scottish Government
funding this year to drive real progress in reducing the longest
waits in our NHS and we are determined to provide more treatments
and procedures closer to home. We will continue to build on the
success of Hospital at Home, expanding the service so that more
than 10,000 people can benefit this winter. As well as continuing
our expansion of GP walk-in services, which have seen more than
15,000 cases since we began rolling them out in February.
I am also determined to drive further improvements through our
reforms of the NHS which will remove duplication, variability,
organisational boundaries and bureaucracy to ensure people across
Scotland regardless of where they live receive the best treatment
and care.
Background
The statistics used in this release are taken from the following
publications by Public Health Scotland, published on Tuesday 29
September, 09:30.
- Cancer Waiting Times
- Acute Hospital Activity and NHS Beds Information
- Stage of treatment waiting times new outpatients, inpatients
and day cases
- Hospital at Home
- Walk-In Centres Monthly Management Information, August Data
View Public Health Scotland's statistical publications on their
website: Publications - Public Health
Scotland
