Other risks to tackle

some hospitals are beginning to face pressures with ambulance stacking and handover delays.

‘Our main concern is that as we begin to see demand increase and the return of community patients, we will also see a return to the way things were before, with crowding and corridor care daily practices, which are a huge risk for patient safety.’

The NHS Scotland statistics also show that in February, 870 operations – 7.1 per cent of all planned surgeries – were cancelled the day before or on the day the patient was due to be treated. This includes 187 procedures cancelled by hospitals for non-clinical or capacity reasons.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘Although the Covid situation is better, there must be a clear message the NHS is always open for everyone to be treated.’

ONE of the mantras heard often last year was about the need to ‘protect the NHS’ from the impact of Covid-19.

It was, and remains, a noble sentiment, for our health service is an institution upon which we all rely.

It is for that very reason that figures showing the NHS is operating at less than half capacity in Scotland are troubling.

One year on from the outset of the pandemic and still large parts of our hospitals lie dormant.

Statistics show 15,000 fewer routine operations conducted in February compared with the same month last year.

It is imperative the NHS be returned to full operating capacity at the earliest possible opportunity. every cancelled appointment, every postponed referral, every delayed surgery can have devastating consequences for patients.

Yes, we must guard against the virus – but there are other risks to health and we must not fall further behind in addressing them.