Fewer operations cancelled

The number of operations cancelled due to a lack of beds or staff has fallen to a new low.

Official figures show that 403 operations were cancelled by hospitals due to capacity or non-clinical reasons during June.

The number represents 1.4 per cent of the total 28,258 planned operations across NHS Scotland during the month.

Both the number and the rate of cancellations are the lowest since recording began in May 2015.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “These figures show that during the month of June we saw the lowest rate of cancelled operations in any June since recording began.

“During this period there was also on average 866 operations carried out each day across the NHS in Scotland.

“This is higher than the annual year-to-date average of 837 operations carried out daily.”