Over £34 million has been expended on the development of plans for five delayed National Treatment Centres (NTCs) in Scotland, aimed at addressing the backlog of medical operations.
These plans, which were shelved in February of the previous year, are spread across sites in Livingston, Perth, Aberdeen, Ayr, and Cumbernauld, and a decision regarding their future remains pending until later this year.
The disclosure came from data accessed by the BBC, revealing that the Scottish government is awaiting the UK government’s Spending Review this spring before providing further updates.
The intended network of treatment centres across Scotland was designed to facilitate at least 40,000 additional elective surgeries and other medical procedures annually by 2026.
While four of these centres are operational and one has received further commitments, the fate of the remaining five is unclear following multiple delays.
The cost breakdown includes expenditures on property acquisitions, building designs, and staffing. Amidst these developments, First Minister John Swinney announced plans for the health service to conduct an additional 150,000 appointments and procedures in the next year, incorporating 10,000 through enhanced operations at existing treatment centres.
Amid long NHS waiting times, Edinburgh charity worker Clare Fallas opted for private surgery after facing a 118-week wait for knee surgery required due to a skiing accident.
Despite her previous successful NHS operations, the prolonged wait prompted her to invest over £4,000 in private treatment, reflecting on the impact such delays could have on her health and family life.
Financially, the unbuilt centre at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, projected as one of Scotland’s largest surgery centres, has seen £9.7 million spent on its planning, despite its original estimate soaring from £70.9 million to £184 million as of 2023.
Other centres in Perth, Aberdeen, and Cumbernauld have also accrued significant costs, with Carrick Glen Hospital in Ayr undergoing a paused refurbishment after a £1.8 million purchase in 2022.
