According to figures from Public Health Scotland, the number of operations performed in July was the highest for five years in Scotland.

23,470 operations were carried out in July, an 8.9% increase compared to July of last year. It is also the highest figure since February 2020.

Over the past 12 months to July 2025, a total of 265,060 operations were performed, a 1.8 per cent increase from the previous year.

Health secretary Neil Gray: “It is welcome to see the number of operations performed last month reach a five-year high. It’s also encouraging to see a year-on-year increase in planned procedures since 2021, despite ongoing pressures on service.”

“We want to build on this success and drive that improvement across Scotland – we are investing £110 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.”