Scottish patients have reportedly faced waits of more than two years for specialist consultations by telephone or video, despite long-standing efforts by the SNP to expand virtual healthcare. The figures have prompted opposition criticism that remote appointments are failing to reduce delays, while the Scottish Government says longer outpatient waits have been falling and activity has increased.

Data from ten of Scotland’s 14 health boards recorded more than 1.5 million remote appointments over the past three years, with average waits varying considerably by service and location. The longest cited wait was 969 days for a general surgery consultation in NHS Ayrshire and Arran; NHS Orkney recorded 927 days for psychiatry, NHS Fife 790 days for ear, nose and throat care, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported waits including 556 days for cardiology. The national target for new outpatient appointments is 12 weeks.