SCOTTISH Labour has accused the SNP of being in denial after NHS outpatient waiting lists rose for a fourth consecutive month.

Figures from Public Health Scotland showed ongoing outpatient waits climbed 2 per cent to 507,535 in July, with long waits also rising — those over a year increasing to 14,857 and those over two years to 1,133.

Inpatient and day case waiting lists fell by less than 1 per cent to 157,271, of which 16,738 had waited more than a year and 2,111 more than two years.

The SNP had previously pledged to end waits longer than a year by March this year.

Scottish Labour said seven waiting list targets dating back to 2022 remain unmet, while a separate report found a further 107,803 people were waiting for diagnostic tests as of June.

Health Secretary Angela Constance hailed “undeniable progress” on waiting lists.

But Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “These dire statistics show outpatient waiting lists are still climbing and long waits are on the rise despite years of empty promises from the SNP.

“Targets are continually missed, thousands of patients are languishing on waiting lists for years on end, and on many measures things are going in the wrong direction — but this dangerously complacent SNP government thinks this is a job well done.”

She said patients “living with the reality of SNP failure won’t be fooled by the government’s cherry-picked statistics,” and added: “The SNP’s pre-election sticking plaster solutions are falling apart and we need a real plan for the future.

“Angela Constance cannot remain in denial about this crisis when so many Scots are suffering.”Scotland’s health secretary Angela Constance said: “These latest statistics demonstrate clear progress in reducing the longest waits in our NHS. I am grateful to our hard-working NHS staff whose efforts mean more people are getting the scans, tests and treatment they need.

“However, we still have a way to go, and I am clear we can and must do more to tackle waits and use every inch of capacity in our NHS to ensure patients get the care they need, when they need it.  

“To drive progress and go further, we have announced £90 million of additional funding dedicated to those waiting the longest for treatment. We are also continuing to fund 13 mobile MRI and 4 mobile CT scanners across NHS Scotland to help people get diagnostic tests they need, with some boards providing these services seven days a week, 12 hours a day.  

“I will be closely monitoring the progress in Boards with the longest waiting times, and will be taking a number of targeted measures to reform how care is delivered across Scotland.  

“For example, we will soon be publishing a new national plan for the flow of patients through hospitals. We will increase the number of planned GP walk-in centres and we will deliver at least 50,000 operations and procedures within the first 100 days of Government.

“The First Minister has also announced £3 million of funding for the first three healthy heart and lung checks, delivered by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland in Glasgow, Grampian and Tayside. Prevention is better than cure and catching issues early can save lives.”