NHS Waiting Times Source: FOI release

Information requested

A source on the First Minister Humza Yousaf's claims in his speech to Parliament that National Health Service waiting times are improving following the pandemic.

Response

The First Minister was referring to data produced by PHS which shows improvement in waiting times as shown below.

• The number of outpatients experiencing waits over 52 weeks has reduced, down 8.0% in the last quarter (from 37,479 patients Q3 2022 to 34,494 Q4 2022).
• The number of outpatients waiting longer than 2 years for a new outpatient appointment was reduced by 50% since September 2022 and by 60% since June 2022.
• The number of outpatient attendances in Q4 2022 was 311,030 - an increase of 2.8% (8,559 patients) from the previous quarter - the highest quarterly figure since Q1 2020.
• The number of Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG) waits over 2 years is down 5.9% from the previous quarter (from 7,288 to 6,856).
• The numbers waiting longer than 2 years for inpatient or day case treatment was reduced by 28% in half a year (down from Q2 2022).
• The number of patients covered by the TTG who have completed their wait and been admitted for treatment in Q4 2022 was 55,875, an increase of 3.5% (+1,902 patients) from the quarter ending Q3 2022 and the highest number since March 2020.

Public Health Scotland publishes NHS waiting times - stage of treatment data every quarter. The latest publication can be found at Stage of treatment waiting times - Inpatients, day cases and new outpatients 31 December 2022 - NHS waiting times - stage of treatment - Publications - Public Health Scotland.

This update provides the latest progress on the Planned care targets to tackle long waits announced in July 2022.

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