Worst May on Record
Scottish Labour has warned that Scotland’s NHS is in “crisis” as new figures show A&E performance is at a record low for May, the number of planned operations is falling, and delayed discharge is rising.
New figures show Scotland’s NHS remains at crisis point, with performance declining on a number of key measures in May.
In May 2026, nearly a third of patients waited more than the target four hours in A&E, with a staggering 16,612 people waiting over eight hours and 6,978 waiting more than 12. This is the worst performance for any May on record.
The number of planned operations in Scottish hospitals this May fell compared to the same point last year, and the total number of operations over the previous 12 months remains 25,829 below pre-pandemic levels.
Delayed discharge remained stubbornly high with overall levels rising compared to the same point the previous year.
A&E
Commenting on A&E statistics for May 2026, which show it was the worst May on record, Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said “For years the SNP has promised to fix the deadly crisis in A&E, but things are worse than ever.
“The SNP need to end the broken promises and put in place a real plan to fix this mess – supporting staff, easing pressure on hospitals and improving primary care.
“Scotland deserves better and we cannot afford any more A&E chaos.”
PLANNED OPS
Commenting on May’s planned operations statistics, which show the number planned operations fell compared to last May, Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said “While thousands of Scots are stuck on NHS waiting lists for months and even years on end, it is a scandal that the number of operations taking place is falling.
“For the last five years, the SNP has failed to deliver the NHS recovery it promised – and it looks like they will continue to fail.
“We need a real plan to boost the number of operations taking place across NHS Scotland and get people the care they need.”
DELAYED DISCHARGE
Commenting on May’s delayed discharge statistics, which show levels of delayed discharge rose by 4 per cent compared to last year, with 59,429 bed days being lost, Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said “Delayed discharge is piling pressure on hospitals, causing misery for patients and costing taxpayers millions of pounds.
“The SNP needs to invest in our overstretched social care system so Scots can recover at home instead of languishing in hospital needlessly.”
Notes
Cancelled planned operations – Month ending 31 May 2026
- There were 24,951 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 0.5% less (-116) than the number planned in May 2025 (25,067).
- The last 12 months of planned operations is still 7.7% lower (25,829) than the 12-month period immediately prior to March 2020 when the Covid pandemic began to affect planned operations.
Delayed discharges in NHS Scotland monthly – May 2026:
- In May 2026, there were 59,429 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed. This is 4% more than the number of delayed days in May 2025 (57,399).
A&E May 2026:
- Attendances: There were 151,019 attendances at A&E in NHS Scotland (compared to 140,055 the previous month, and 137,702 monthly average for 2025).
- Compliance with the revised 4-hour A&E access standard: 102,205 (67.7%) of A&E attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours (compared to 95,182 (68%) the previous month, and 94,930 (68.9%) monthly average for 2025).
- Attendances of over 8 hours: 16,612 (11.3%) patients spent more than 8 hours in A&E (compared to 15,501 (11.3%) the previous month, and 14,889 (11.1%) monthly average for 2025).
- Attendances of over 12 hours: 6,978 (4.7%) patients spent more than 12 hours in A&E (compared to 6,498 (4.7%) the previous month, and 6,490 (4.8%) monthly average for 2025).
% seen within 4 hours by year:
| 2008 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 97.8 |
| 2010 | 97.2 |
| 2011 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 94.7 |
| 2013 | 94.6 |
| 2014 | 92.7 |
| 2015 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 94.5 |
| 2017 | 94.0 |
| 2018 | 93.1 |
| 2019 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 95.7 |
| 2021 | 87.3 |
| 2022 | 73.3 |
| 2023 | 71.1 |
| 2024 | 71.7 |
| 2025 | 71.9 |
| 2026 | 67.7 |
