WAITING lists for heart appointments in NHS Scotland are at their highest levels on record, as the health service grapples with a staffing crisis.  

Public Health Scotland data shows that as of September 2024, a shocking 24,000 people languished on waiting lists for a cardiology appointment, up 1,000 in just one year and a staggering 252 per cent increase since 2019.

More than 14,000 had waited longer than the SNP Scottish government’s 12 week target, 1,184 of whom waited more than 12 months — a 56 per cent rise since September 2023.

Heart disease remains the nation’s biggest killer, claiming about 18,000 lives in 2023, higher than 2019 and reversing a decades-long trend of decline.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland’s David McColgan accused the Scottish government of failing to properly resource treatment and called for “political leadership” to turn the tide.

He warned: “Delaying treatment for heart conditions can make it harder to manage, increases costs to the NHS and leads to worse outcomes for patients.

“Tragically, many of those people affected by heart disease may lose their lives before they even get the care they need.”

Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie called the figures a “wake-up call for the SNP” and urged it to “listen to these stark warnings from the BHF and act urgently.”

The figures come after SNP First Minister John Swinney pledged 150,000 more appointments — over an unspecified period — to slash soaring waiting lists.

But new data, released under freedom of information to BMA Scotland, have raised concerns on its deliverability.

The data shows 1,003 whole time equivalent consultant vacancies in Scotland, down on last year’s tally of 1,073, but one which still leaves NHS Scotland carrying an average vacancy rate of 14.4 per cent. 

BMA’s Scottish consultants’ committee chairman Dr Alan Robertson said: “These figures on consultant vacancies are particularly concerning in light of the recent pledge by the First Minister.”

He warned that it would take 13 years to fill the current number of vacancies at the current rate.

“There is a major question mark over how this extra capacity can be delivered when there are already not enough consultants to simply keep up with current demand,” he said.

“We need urgent action to tackle the medical workforce crisis.”

A Scottish government spokesperson insisted that there was “a record high number” of consultants and that it “remains committed to delivering reductions in waiting times.”