Operations activity still well below pre-pandemic levels

Responding to Public Health Scotland figures published today which show that the number of planned operations were lower than pre-pandemic levels, with 18.5% fewer operations planned in July 2023 than were planned in July 2019, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“Humza Yousaf’s NHS Recovery Plan has failed entirely; it’s well past time for the new Health Secretary to change course.  

“If we want to avoid another winter defined by record waiting times and NHS staff pushed to breaking point, the government must tear up this plan and start again. It is what patients and staff deserve.  

“A new plan must prioritise the recruitment and retention of staff through a burnout prevention strategy and a staff and social care assembly."