Rise in planned ops shows sustained and continued improvement in NHS – Neil Gray

An increase in planned operations shows “sustained and continued improvement” in the NHS, Health Secretary Neil Gray has said.

Official figures show 25,996 surgeries were planned to take place in November 2025, with this up 5% – 1,232 procedures more – than the same month in 2024.

Public Health Scotland data also reveals that over the 12 months from the start of December 2024 to the end of November 2025, 298,246 operations were planned.

This was up 5.2% from the previous 12 months, with 14,796 more procedures planned for over the period.

However the report noted this total was 10.4% lower – 34,744 operations fewer – than the number of planned surgeries for December 2018 to November 2019, before Covid hit.

The report also reveals that in November, 8.4% of planned operations – 2,185 procedures – were cancelled either the day before surgery or on the day itself.

This was the same rate of cancellations as November 2024, with the latest figures showing 1.9% of surgeries were cancelled by the hospital for capacity or non-clinical reasons.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane hit out at the “grim figures” on cancelled ops, saying they remain “stubbornly high”.

The Tory MSP said: “Getting told your operation has been called off at the 11th hour is utterly soul-destroying for patients who’ve already waited in agony for far too long.”

Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: “Patients should not have to go through the anguish of having an operation cancelled on the day it is due to take place, or the day before it.

“While there will understandably be instances where operations have to be cancelled for legitimate reasons, it is troubling that a lack of hospital capacity should mean someone misses out on badly needed help.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton claimed that “countless SNP health secretaries have promised the earth for our NHS but delivered next to nothing”.

He said: “The SNP cannot be trusted to get the NHS back on its feet after the pandemic.

“Staff are stretched to breaking point and patients are waiting in pain.”

But Mr Gray said it was “welcome to see sustained and continued improvement in the number of operations carried out, despite ongoing pressures on services”.

He hailed the rise in planned operations as being “further evidence that our NHS has turned a corner”.

Mr Gray said: “I am extremely grateful to all the staff who work so hard every day to make progress like this possible.

“We want to build on this success and we are investing £135.5 million to tackle the longest waits for procedures and operations.

“Our record investment in the NHS this year is allowing us to target specific areas that are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible.”