NHS in Scotland recovering more slowly from covid pandemic than in England, report warns

The NHS in Scotland is recovering more slowly from the Covid-19 pandemic than in England, according to a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). The report highlighted that key areas of the health service in Scotland are still performing worse than before the lockdown, with continued declines in most areas over the past year. Specifically, the report noted a decline in the elective care waiting list, A&E performance, and cancer treatment waiting times in Scotland, although there has been an improvement in the proportion of people waiting six weeks or less for a diagnostic test.

In contrast, England has seen some signs of improvement in all studied areas over the past 12 months, except for the percentage of people waiting more than 18 weeks from referral to elective treatment. The report attributed the slower recovery in Scotland to a lower number of patients being seen compared to pre-pandemic levels, with fewer elective inpatient admissions, emergency inpatient admissions, and outpatient appointments between April and June this year compared to the final quarter of 2019.

Research economist Max Warner, who authored the report, highlighted the diverging recovery paths of the Scottish and English NHS systems. While the UK Government has been focusing on improving NHS performance and productivity, Warner stressed the importance of the Scottish Government doing the same to address the concerning discrepancies in recovery rates between the two countries.

Speaking in Edinburgh, Deputy First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the challenges faced by the health service in Scotland but emphasised the government’s commitment to enhancing NHS performance. However, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton criticised the Scottish Government’s handling of the NHS, calling for concrete actions to address the growing waiting lists and delays in healthcare services.

Overall, the report underscores the need for sustained efforts to boost the NHS’s recovery in Scotland and bridge the performance gap with England, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. It highlights the importance of proactive measures and investments to improve healthcare outcomes and ensure timely access to essential services for the people of Scotland.