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Waits for heart appointments in Scotland soar to a record high
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney during his visit to the offices of the of Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) in Edinburgh, January 27, 2025
“At local level, it’s different."
WAITING lists for heart appointments in NHS Scotland are at their highest levels on record, as the health service grapples with a staffing crisis.
Public Health Scotland data shows that as of September 2024, a shocking 24,000 people languished on waiting lists for a cardiology appointment, up 1,000 in just one year and a staggering 252 per cent increase since 2019.
More than 14,000 had waited longer than the SNP Scottish government’s 12 week target, 1,184 of whom waited more than 12 months — a 56 per cent rise since September 2023.
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