Scottish health boards are to receive an extra £25.5 million this year to allow them to deliver more planned care appointments and procedures to reduce long waits for patients.

The additional funding will support the delivery of more outpatient appointments and inpatient/day case procedures across a variety of specialities including orthopaedics, dermatology, general surgery and gynaecology.

Total additional investment in 2025-26 is now at £135.5 million to help the National Health Service maintain progress on reducing waiting lists.

Recent figures have revealed that the total list size and longest waits are coming down. There has also been an increase of more than 31,000 appointments and procedures from April to September this year compared to same period in 2024.

First Minister John Swinney said: “The latest figures show our plan to support Scotland’s NHS is working, delivering real benefits for patients. We have already provided £110 million of additional targeted funding this year to tackle the longest waits. Now we are providing a further boost to deliver more appointments and procedures, taking the total additional funding to £135.5 million for 2025-26.

“I am determined to build on the progress being achieved by hardworking staff in our health service, like those I met today at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. We want to help them provide the care and treatment patients need and expect – and we are already seeing results.

“Not only are the total list size and longest waits coming down, but we are treating more people than last year. There is still work to be done, but these are very welcome improvements."