NHS using extra funding to reduce waiting times

NHS Shetland says it is using extra funding from the Scottish Government to reduce “long waits” for treatment in some speciality areas.

Shetland was one of nine health boards to receive a share of an extra £25.5 million this year for planned care.

NHS Shetland’s director of nursing and acute services Professor Kathleen Carolan said funding worth £512,000 was approved for Shetland.

“The funding is being used to ensure that we are able to access specialist visiting services that we would not otherwise be able to provide locally,” she explained.

This includes areas like orthopaedics, rheumatology, dermatology and ophthalmology and diagnostics such as CT and MRI reporting.

A report on the first quarter of 2025/26 which went in front of the NHS Shetland board at the end of September highlighted that capacity in ophthalmology had been impacted by the “cessation of weekend working”.

It added: “The number of people waiting over 52 weeks is a significant focus for Scottish Government and locally, with improvement plans in place to address this both locally and regionally.”

Advertisement5 of 10

The performance report also said there have been “ongoing challenges” with cancer pathways provided by other boards, a number of which have capacity issues.

“There is work ongoing nationally to consider how best to address these,” it added.

“Where people are able to be treated locally performance continues to be high.”

First minister John Swinney said earlier this month regarding the nationwide funding: “We have already provided £110 million of additional targeted funding this year to tackle the longest waits.

“Now we are providing a further boost to deliver more appointments and procedures, taking the total additional funding to £135.5 million for 2025-26.

“I am determined to build on the progress being achieved by hardworking staff in our health service.”