Scottish Government urged to investigate as chronic pain waiting list increases

The Scottish Government has been urged to investigate as more than one in 10 chronic pain patients wait more than a year for treatment.

Figures released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday showed 13.4% of people waiting between January and March had waited longer than 12 months.

The figure was an increase from an average of 7.9% last year and just 0.3% in 2019.

The number of people seen within 12 weeks also dropped, according to the figures, falling from an average of 51.8% last year to 49.3% in the first quarter.

During the same time, the total number of people seen at chronic pain clinics dropped by 16.2% compared to the same time last year, from 2,028 to 1,699.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is taking action to improve care and services for people with chronic pain in Scotland.

“This includes making it easier to access the right care at the right time and enhancing services to deliver more effective and sustainable support for people living with chronic pain.

“Nevertheless, we know that performance is not where it needs to be and we continue to work closely with the health boards facing the greatest challenges in health and social care, to drive down waiting times and improve services for patients and staff.”

Responding to the figures, Scottish Labour deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, said: “Behind these figures are thousands of patients left in limbo while living with crippling pain.

“But rather than getting the support they need, under the SNP, more and more patients are getting the message that their suffering doesn’t matter.

“The SNP must urgently investigate why waiting lists are increasing and ensure those living with chronic pain are seen as quickly as possible.”