A new outpatient appointment is categorised as the first meeting with a consultant or their representative following an outpatient referral. Outpatients whose first clinical interaction follows an inpatient episode are excluded.
The national standard is that 95% of new outpatients will wait no longer than 12 weeks from referral to being seen.
The below table shows the number of patients waiting for a new outpatient appointment.
New Outpatients waiting for an appointment at a consultant-led clinic
|
Total number waiting at month end |
Of Which: waiting over 12 weeks |
% Currently waiting less than 12 weeks |
Jan 2024 |
15,332 |
6,588 |
57.0% |
Feb 2024 |
14,915 |
6,562 |
56.0% |
Mar 2024 |
14,834 |
5,725 |
61.4% |
Apr 2024 |
14,550 |
5,306 |
63.5% |
May 2024 |
14,834 |
4,756 |
67.3% |
Jun 2024 |
14,550 |
4,200 |
69.4% |
Jul 2024 |
14,547 |
4,311 |
68.6% |
Aug 2024 |
13,735 |
4,000 |
70.5% |
Sep 2024 |
13,740 |
3,518 |
72.6% |
Oct 2024 |
12,520 |
3,270 |
73.9% |
Nov 2024 |
12,639 |
3,396 |
73.1% |
Dec 2024 |
12,392 |
3,434 |
73.0% |
Jan 2025 |
12,631 |
3,736 |
70.4% |
For more information about attending Outpatient Appointments.
Waiting times standard is that patients should be waiting no more than six weeks for one of the eight key diagnostic tests and investigations – Xray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Colonoscopy, Upper Endoscopy, Lower Endoscopy, Cystoscopy
Imaging Waiting Times (Xray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI)
|
Total number waiting at month end |
Of Which: waiting over 6 weeks |
% Currently waiting less than 6 weeks |
Jan 2024 |
9,396 |
5,906 |
37.1% |
Feb 2024 |
9,824 |
5,955 |
39.4% |
Mar 2024 |
10,314 |
6,580 |
36.2% |
Apr 2024 |
10,752 |
7,094 |
34.0% |
May 2024 |
10,165 |
6,745 |
33.6% |
Jun 2024 |
9,619 |
6,097 |
36.6% |
Jul 2024 |
8,766 |
5,520 |
37.0% |
Aug 2024 |
7,956 |
4,675 |
41.2% |
Sep 2024 |
7,951 |
4,398 |
44.7% |
Oct 2024 |
7,792 |
4,187 |
46.3% |
Nov 2024 |
7,002 |
3,528 |
49.6% |
Dec 2024 |
6,297 |
3,405 |
45.9% |
Jan 2025 |
5,978 |
2,975 |
50.2% |
Endoscopy Waiting Times (Colonoscopy, Upper Endoscopy, Lower Endoscopy, Cystoscopy)
|
Total number waiting at month end |
Of Which: waiting over 6 weeks |
% Currently waiting less than 6 weeks |
Jan 2024 |
906 |
378 |
58.3% |
Feb 2024 |
816 |
252 |
69.1% |
Mar 2024 |
762 |
281 |
63.1% |
Apr 2024 |
714 |
246 |
65.5% |
May 2024 |
886 |
276 |
68.8% |
Jun 2024 |
846 |
298 |
64.8% |
Jul 2024 |
841 |
389 |
53.7% |
Aug 2024 |
823 |
327 |
60.3% |
Sep 2024 |
844 |
305 |
63.9% |
Oct 2024 |
785 |
287 |
63.4% |
Nov 2024 |
874 |
260 |
70.3% |
Dec 2024 |
862 |
311 |
63.9% |
Jan 2025 |
914 |
339 |
62.9% |
The 62-day cancer waiting times standard states that 95% of eligible patients should wait no longer than 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment.
62 Day Cancer standard compliance
Dec 2023 |
76.8% |
Jan 2024 |
69.9% |
Feb 2024 |
79.7% |
Mar 2024 |
79.7% |
Apr 2024 |
85.4% |
May 2024 |
79.5% |
Jun 2024 |
81.5% |
Jul 2024 |
83.6% |
Aug 2024 |
84.2% |
Sep 2024 |
84.1% |
Oct 2024 |
77.9% |
Nov 2024 |
80.8% |
Dec 2024 |
78.8% |
The 31-day cancer waiting times standard states that 95% of all patients should wait no more than 31 days from decision to treat to first cancer treatment.
31 Day Cancer standard compliance
Dec 2023 |
97.9% |
Jan 2024 |
98.2% |
Feb 2024 |
100% |
Mar 2024 |
98.5% |
Apr 2024 |
99.0% |
May 2024 |
100% |
Jun 2024 |
100% |
Jul 2024 |
100% |
Aug 2024 |
100% |
Sep 2024 |
100% |
Oct 2024 |
98.1% |
Nov 2024 |
97.7% |
Dec 2024 |
97.8% |
For more information about cancer services at NHS Forth Valley – Cancer Services.
Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG) – If you see specialist at an outpatient clinic and require further inpatient or day case treatment then you should wait no longer than 12 weeks
for your treatment to start from the date your treatment plan was agreed.
Number waiting for an Inpatient or Daycase Procedure
|
Total number waiting at month end |
Of Which: waiting over 12 weeks |
% Currently waiting less than 12 weeks |
Jan 2024 |
5,475 |
3,076 |
43.8% |
Feb 2024 |
5,519 |
3,163 |
42.7% |
Mar 2024 |
5,275 |
2,899 |
45.0% |
Apr 2024 |
5,267 |
3,064 |
41.8% |
May 2024 |
5,449 |
3,025 |
44.5% |
Jun 2024 |
5,501 |
3,066 |
44.3% |
Jul 2024 |
5,378 |
3,048 |
43.3% |
Aug 2024 |
5,603 |
3,252 |
42.0% |
Sep 2024 |
5,696 |
3,197 |
43.9% |
Oct 2024 |
5,876 |
3,124 |
46.8% |
Nov 2024 |
6,223 |
3,521 |
43.4% |
Dec 2024 |
6,306 |
3,787 |
39.9% |
Jan 2025 |
6,617 |
4,189 |
36.7% |
The 18 Weeks RTT (Referral to Treatment) is a whole journey waiting time standard from initial referral to the start of treatment. The standard states that 90.0% of patients should have started their treatment within 18 weeks. The standard applies specifically to psychological therapies for treatment of a mental illness or disorder.
Psychological Therapies RTT compliance
Jan 2024 |
63.6% |
Feb 2024 |
69.8% |
Mar 2024 |
72.7% |
Apr 2024 |
71.0% |
May 2024 |
66.0% |
Jun 2024 |
78.1% |
Jul 2024 |
69.5% |
Aug 2024 |
70.9% |
Sep 2024 |
79.9% |
Oct 2024 |
76.3% |
Nov 2024 |
72.6% |
Dec 2024 |
76.0% |
Jan 2025 |
68.2% |
For information about the service at NHS Forth Valley see Adult Psychology Therapies.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
The 18 Weeks RTT (Referral to Treatment) is a whole journey waiting time standard from initial referral to the start of treatment. The standard states that 90.0% of patients should have started their treatment within 18 weeks.
CAMHS RTT compliance
Jan 2024 |
86.1% |
Feb 2024 |
95.6% |
Mar 2024 |
95.5% |
Apr 2024 |
98.0% |
May 2024 |
96.9% |
Jun 2024 |
98.9% |
Jul 2024 |
98.8% |
Aug 2024 |
100% |
Sep 2024 |
98.6% |
Oct 2024 |
97.7% |
Nov 2024 |
96.5% |
Dec 2024 |
96.1% |
Jan 2025 |
98.6% |
For information about the service at NHS Forth Valley see CAMHS.
The national standard for Accident & Emergency (A&E) waiting times is that unplanned attendances at an A&E service should be seen and then admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. This standard applies to all areas of emergency care such as Emergency Departments (ED), assessment units, minor injury units, community hospitals, anywhere where emergency care type activity takes place.
Emergency Department % compliance against 4-hour national standard
Jan 2024 |
42.5% |
Feb 2024 |
40.8% |
Mar 2024 |
43.2% |
Apr 2024 |
44.4% |
May 2024 |
49.1% |
Jun 2024 |
46.7% |
Jul 2024 |
49.8% |
Aug 2024 |
47.4% |
Sep 2024 |
44.7% |
Oct 2024 |
44.2% |
Nov 2024 |
43.4% |
Dec 2024 |
41.2% |
Jan 2025 |
46.4% |
Number of Unplanned Attendances at Emergency Department
Jan 2024 |
4,742 |
Feb 2024 |
4,619 |
Mar 2024 |
5,079 |
Apr 2024 |
5,071 |
May 2024 |
5,406 |
Jun 2024 |
5,181 |
Jul 2024 |
4,915 |
Aug 2024 |
5,068 |
Sep 2024 |
5,103 |
Oct 2024 |
5,064 |
Nov 2024 |
4,821 |
Dec 2024 |
4,914 |
Jan 2025 |
4,731 |
Minor Injuries Unit % compliance against 4-hour access target
Jan 2024 |
100% |
Feb 2024 |
99.9% |
Mar 2024 |
99.5% |
Apr 2024 |
98.8% |
May 2024 |
98.5% |
Jun 2024 |
97.6% |
Jul 2024 |
99.0% |
Aug 2024 |
99.7% |
Sep 2024 |
98.5% |
Oct 2024 |
99.9% |
Nov 2024 |
100% |
Dec 2024 |
99.7% |
Jan 2025 |
99.7% |
Attendances at Minor Injuries Unit
|
Unplanned |
Planned |
Total |
Jan 2024 |
820 |
702 |
1,522 |
Feb 2024 |
749 |
813 |
1,562 |
Mar 2024 |
876 |
952 |
1,828 |
Apr 2024 |
843 |
970 |
1,813 |
May 2024 |
889 |
1,180 |
2,069 |
Jun 2024 |
886 |
1,042 |
1,928 |
Jul 2024 |
922 |
894 |
1,816 |
Aug 2024 |
863 |
987 |
1,850 |
Sep 2024 |
954 |
1,124 |
2,078 |
Oct 2024 |
901 |
798 |
1,699 |
Nov 2024 |
824 |
832 |
1,656 |
Dec 2024 |
716 |
714 |
1,430 |
Jan 2025 |
736 |
739 |
1,475 |
More information about where you can access emergency care can be found at Right Care Right Place.
Public Health Scotland (PHS)
Regular statistical publications on a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, those detailed above are released by PHS.
The PHS publications website can be found at Publications – Public Health Scotland.