Meeting NHS waiting times target ‘really challenging’, says watchdog

The Scottish Government’s aim to meet its waiting times targets by March is “really challenging”, the Auditor General has said.

John Swinney has said he wants to eradicate year-long waits for treatment in the next two months.

However, figures released on Tuesday reveal 70,209 waits of more than 12 months still ongoing on November 30 of last year, showing a decrease, but some way short of meeting the First Minister’s target.

Health Secretary Neil Gray has said the Government is committed to meeting the target.

Speaking at a meeting of the Public Audit Committee on Wednesday, Auditor General Stephen Boyle said: “Overall, waiting lists and waits of over a year are continuing to fall.

“The ability, though, to deliver and clear these long waits by March remains really challenging.”

He added: “I think you’re seeing progress in addressing the ambition in the target and the work of the operational improvement plan, whether all these longer term waits can be met by March remains to be seen and it will be undoubtedly challenging to do so.”

Reform UK MSP Graham Simpson said during the committee meeting the “reality is” the target was not going to be met, but the Auditor General told the MSP such a judgment was not for him to make.

In an interview with the Press Association earlier this year, the First Minister talked up the improvements in waiting times under his leadership, but refused to say if he was confident of meeting the target.

“Certainly, for outpatients and inpatients, numbers are declining and they’re declining on a sustained basis and have been doing so for five consecutive months,” he said.

“I think we’re making the headway that’s required… we’re improving the performance of the healthcare system and it’s delivering the treatment that people are waiting for.”

The Health Secretary said: “I am pleased that the Auditor General has noted the real and sustained progress we are making on reducing waiting times for patients across Scotland. This is ensuring thousands of people receive the care they need.

“We have delivered record investment of £21 billion for health and social care with, with £135.5 million of additional funding targeted at speciality areas with the longest waits.

“There is still much more to do but I am encouraged that long waits have fallen for the last six months in a row. We are committed to ensuring no patient waits longer than 52 weeks by March 2026.”