Scotland’s pledge to tackle soaring NHS waiting lists with new surgery hubs hangs in limbo — and frustrated patients are stuck in queues that keep getting longer.
A Backlog Piled High
Across the country, almost 560,000 people are now waiting for their first outpatient appointment. Some have waited more than two years. That’s a record.
So when ministers promised a chain of National Treatment Centres (NTCs) to handle extra hip replacements, knee ops, cataract surgery and more, it sounded like relief.
But half of those centres still haven’t been built.
Five Projects Frozen
Back in February last year, five treatment hubs — planned for Livingston, Perth, Aberdeen, Ayr and Cumbernauld — were put on ice. The reason? Not enough cash.
At the time, the Scottish government said they’d revisit the projects after the UK’s spending review. That came and went this month — and now patients are told to wait even longer.
Ministers say the next update on the mothballed centres will come in December, once yet another capital spending review decides which NHS buildings are the real priority.
Big Promises, Bigger Numbers
The idea behind the NTCs was simple: tackle the backlog by ringfencing space for routine procedures, freeing up general hospitals to handle emergencies.
When the scheme was unveiled, it promised:
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40,000 extra elective surgeries, scans and treatments every year by 2026
So far, only four new centres are open. One more has funding confirmed. But the remaining five sites have cost taxpayers £34 million already — with nothing yet to show for it.
How The Numbers Stack Up
Here’s where things stand:
| Centre Location | Status | Progress | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness | Open | Exceeding targets | Fully operational |
| Fife | Open | Meeting targets | Fully operational |
| Larbert | Open | Meeting targets | Fully operational |
| Clydebank | Open | Meeting targets | Fully operational |
| Edinburgh (Eye Pavilion) | Approved | Funding committed | Replacement facility |
| Livingston | On Hold | No build yet | Awaiting review |
| Perth | On Hold | No build yet | Awaiting review |
| Aberdeen | On Hold | No build yet | Awaiting review |
| Ayr | On Hold | No build yet | Awaiting review |
| Cumbernauld | On Hold | No build yet | Awaiting review |
Sources: NHS Scotland, Scottish Government
Ministers Say Be Patient
A Scottish government spokesperson said they’re spending more than £1 billion on NHS capital investment this year. They claim they’re determined to “put our capital budget back on a sustainable trajectory.”
That means revisiting every project — roads, schools, and hospitals — to see which ones really fit the “priorities.”
A new infrastructure pipeline will set out what gets built and what doesn’t when the 2026-27 Budget lands.
Waiting Patients Feel Forgotten
But that’s little comfort to patients stuck in the queue.
One woman waiting for hip surgery in Perth said she’s in “constant pain” but has no idea when or where she’ll be treated. “It’s like being in limbo,” she told BBC Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney says his goal is to slash the backlog with an extra 150,000 appointments and procedures this year. But with treatment centres still on hold, it’s unclear how.
Some Centres Show It Can Be Done
Inverness is a bright spot. The Highland centre is not only meeting its targets but exceeding them. Its surgeons are doing more hip and knee replacements than expected — and wait times there have dropped.
That’s what frustrates campaigners. They argue the model works — when it’s built.
One local MSP put it bluntly: “We’ve got a working example in Inverness. People in Perth and Livingston deserve the same.”
The Cost Of Standing Still
NHS bosses warn that if the new centres don’t go ahead, backlogs will only get worse.
Orthopaedic surgeons say delays now mean more complex cases down the line, as patients deteriorate waiting for help.
For now, the message is simple: stay tuned until December. But for those living in pain, that’s not much to hold onto.
