OFFICIAL statistics published on Tuesday have shown a range of improvements made across NHS services in Scotland.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland shows that planned care activity is up, with the number of operations performed in July 2025 reaching the highest figure since the pandemic hit.
Figures show that the NHS carried out 290,229 surgeries between August 2024 and July 2025, a 1.7% increase compared with the previous 12 months. The total remains 13.1% lower than the number of operations recorded in the same period from August 2018 to July 2019.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) waiting-time targets were also met for the third month in a row, with 90% of those referred being seen within the 18-week standard.
Accident and emergency (A&E) waiting times have also seen improvements, recording the lowest number of eight and 12-hour waits since September 2023, despite July attendances being the highest for that month in six years.
Of the 140,820 individuals who attended A&E in July, 71.1% were seen and either admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour target time – an increase from the previous month, though still below the Scottish Government’s target of 90%.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We know A&E performance is below the levels we all wish to see and we are determined to drive improvements – we remain in close contact with all health boards to ensure they have the support they need to cope with peaks in demand.
“We are investing £200 million to reduce waiting times, improve hospital flow and minimise delayed discharges.”
Additionally, the number of drug deaths in Scotland has dropped by 13%, down to 1017 in 2014 – the lowest rate registered since 2017. Drug-related deaths of under-25s also decreased significantly. Clare Haughey, SNP MSP for Rutherglen, said of the improvements: “While Labour continue to talk down Scotland’s NHS, these figures show the reality: under John Swinney and the SNP, Scotland’s health service is delivering improvements.
“More operations are being carried out, waiting times are coming down and our NHS staff continue to go above and beyond to provide world-class care. “Meeting CAMHS waiting-time targets for the third time in a row is a particularly important milestone, ensuring that children and young people get the support they deserve. “Scotland’s approach to tackling drug deaths is also starting to show results, with a significant fall in the number of lives lost. But we will not be complacent. Every life lost is a tragedy, and we will keep working to reduce these numbers further. “The SNP will always stand up for our NHS and for the patients and staff who rely on it, unlike the opposition who offer no positive vision and are more interested in scoring political points than recognising progress.”
