Cardiology system in Scotland ‘overwhelmed’ by high demand – health study

The cardiology system in Scotland has been “overwhelmed” by rising demand, according to a report.

According to a report by Public Health Scotland, waiting lists for outpatient treatment have risen from 8,824 in March 2020 – the same month as the first Covid-19 lockdown – to 23,859 in June of this year.

The number of waits of more than 12 weeks for treatment also increased during that period, from 1,020 to 12,758.

The report said the rise in outpatient waiting times was “steady and concerning”, adding: “The timing of these increases strongly suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic had a profound impact on service performance.

“Recovery efforts have been hampered, as evidenced by trends in additions and removals from the waiting list.

“While the number of patients being added and removed each month has remained broadly similar, the cumulative effect of sustained high demand has overwhelmed the system, making it difficult to meaningfully reduce waiting times.”

The report went on to say the data only covers those waiting for an appointment with a cardiology consultant, meaning other patients could still be waiting, while follow-up appointments for people suffering with long-term, heart conditions also weigh on the system.

But the assertion comes as the rate of coronary heart disease (CHD) hit its lowest level in nine years.

Figures published by PHS on Tuesday showed the rate of CHD was 312.5 per 100,000 people in 2024-25.

The specific figures only go back as far as 2015-16, when the rate was 363.4 per 100,000.

The death rate from CHD also dropped significantly in the past nine years, falling from 152.4 to 124.8.

But the consistent trend of heart disease hitting the most deprived continued, with the death rate of those living in the worst off 20% of areas more than double that of those in the more affluent parts of the country – 188.9 per 100,000 compared to 82.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “The 2025-26 Scottish budget allocates almost £200 million to reduce waiting lists across the NHS, including cardiology.

“The Scottish cardiac audit programme, backed by £1.5 million in Scottish Government funding, uses data to drive improvement in cardiac services and support strategic planning.

“It allows us to identify where there are challenges in delivering high-quality cardiac care and work closely with clinical and operational teams to address issues.

“We are pleased to see the further expansion of (the Scottish cardiac audit programme) to include data on radiology, heart failure and heart attack and to see plans for the further expansion to include cardiac rehabilitation, inherited cardiac conditions and sudden cardiac death.”