The Scottish Labour Party is under fire once more, accused of spreading misinformation about NHS waiting times. But is this a fair claim, or a political tactic? Let's unravel the facts.
The Core Dispute: Scottish Labour and the Scottish Government are at odds over the true extent of NHS wait times. The government and its Public Health Scotland (PHS) arm assert that one in nine Scots are on waiting lists, while Scottish Labour contends it's one in six.
The Methodological Divide: The crux of the disagreement lies in the inclusion of diagnostic appointment wait times by Scottish Labour. They argue that by considering these additional wait times, the figure rises significantly. However, this methodology has been challenged.
The Data Debate: Public Health Scotland's latest data, as of October 2025, indicates 628,696 individuals on various waiting lists. Scottish Labour, however, includes an additional 150,506 people waiting for diagnostic tests, bringing their total to 879,215. They further argue that neither their figures nor PHS's account for mental health outpatient treatment, follow-up appointments, and services like physiotherapy, suggesting both sides may be underestimating.
The Misinformation Allegation: The SNP and fact-checking organizations have accused Scottish Labour of misrepresenting the data. They argue that Scottish Labour's method counts some patients multiple times, inflating the numbers. Full Fact, a fact-checking organization, supported this view in June 2024, stating that Scottish Labour's calculation method was misleading.
But here's where it gets controversial: Scottish Labour counters that their approach provides a more comprehensive view, exposing the full extent of NHS pressures. They argue that excluding diagnostic wait times and other services paints an incomplete picture.
The Political Angle: The SNP has been quick to criticize Scottish Labour, accusing them of spreading misinformation and contrasting Scotland's improving wait times with England's, where Labour is in power. This political context adds a layer of complexity to the debate.
So, are Scottish Labour's claims a fair representation of the NHS's challenges, or a misleading tactic? The answer may lie in the details of data interpretation and political motivations. What do you think? Is this a case of political spin or a genuine effort to highlight a critical issue?
