Written Question · S7W-00354 · Session 7
How many women in each NHS board area are currently waiting more than 12 weeks for (a) gynaecology, (b) menopause and (c) chronic pain serv…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government how many women in each NHS board area are currently waiting more than 12 weeks for (a) gynaecology, (b) menopause and (c) chronic pain services, and what action is being taken to reduce these waits.
The answer
Gynaecology
- Waiting to access gynaecology related treatment can cause women anxiety and delays are unacceptable. Last year we allocated £13 million of additional funding to health boards to target long waits for gynaecology. We are beginning to see the impact of that of that investment, with waits going down and we are determined to build on that momentum, ensuring women receive the treatment they need as soon as possible. Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan was published in January 2026 which includes specific actions and steps to help reduce waiting times.Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes statistics on stages of treatment waiting times for gynaecology by board and length of wait. The most recent report was published on 26 May 2026 and can be found at: Stage of treatment waiting times – new outpatients, inpatients and day cases 26 May 2026
- Stage of treatment waiting times
- Publications
- Public Health Scotland.Menopause
- We do not hold data on waiting times for menopause related treatment.However we want all women to have timely access to menopause support and services when required. Through the delivery of the first Women’s Health Plan, published in 2021, we took action to improve menopause care and support for women.Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan published in January 2026, has menopause as a focus of that plan with targeted actions to raise awareness and provide reliable information; commission research; ensure more support for complex menopause care and continuing to deliver education and training for healthcare professionals to help them best support their patients.Chronic Pain
- The Scottish Government understands the impact waiting for treatment can have on people with chronic pain. NHS boards are continuing to effectively deliver pain management services during extremely challenging circumstances over the last few years. We know that performance is not where it needs to be and we continue to work closely with the boards facing the greatest challenges, to drive down waiting times and improve services for patients and staff.We remain committed to improving the experience of those living with long term conditions in Scotland. That is why we will continue working with people with lived experience, the third sector and clinicians to develop our way forward for long term conditions, including chronic pain.This will build on the work undertaken by the Long Term Conditions Advisory Groups established under the previous government. We are now carefully considering their recommendations to inform our way forward.Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes quarterly official statistics on waiting times for pain management services, reported against the national 12 week new outpatient standard. The most recent report was published on 10 March 2026, for the quarter ending 31 December 2025, and is available on the PHS website. However, these data are not disaggregated by sex so we are unable to provide this. The full data set can be found here: Waiting times for pain management services
- Quarter ending 31 December 2025
- Waiting times for pain management services
- Publications
- Public Health Scotland.
- Waiting to access gynaecology related treatment can cause women anxiety and delays are unacceptable. Last year we allocated £13 million of additional funding to health boards to target long waits for gynaecology. We are beginning to see the impact of that of that investment, with waits going down and we are determined to build on that momentum, ensuring women receive the treatment they need as soon as possible. Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan was published in January 2026 which includes specific actions and steps to help reduce waiting times.Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes statistics on stages of treatment waiting times for gynaecology by board and length of wait. The most recent report was published on 26 May 2026 and can be found at: Stage of treatment waiting times – new outpatients, inpatients and day cases 26 May 2026
- Stage of treatment waiting times
- Publications
- Public Health Scotland.Menopause
- We do not hold data on waiting times for menopause related treatment.However we want all women to have timely access to menopause support and services when required. Through the delivery of the first Women’s Health Plan, published in 2021, we took action to improve menopause care and support for women.Phase Two of the Women’s Health Plan published in January 2026, has menopause as a focus of that plan with targeted actions to raise awareness and provide reliable information; commission research; ensure more support for complex menopause care and continuing to deliver education and training for healthcare professionals to help them best support their patients.Chronic Pain
- The Scottish Government understands the impact waiting for treatment can have on people with chronic pain. NHS boards are continuing to effectively deliver pain management services during extremely challenging circumstances over the last few years. We know that performance is not where it needs to be and we continue to work closely with the boards facing the greatest challenges, to drive down waiting times and improve services for patients and staff.We remain committed to improving the experience of those living with long term conditions in Scotland. That is why we will continue working with people with lived experience, the third sector and clinicians to develop our way forward for long term conditions, including chronic pain.This will build on the work undertaken by the Long Term Conditions Advisory Groups established under the previous government. We are now carefully considering their recommendations to inform our way forward.Public Health Scotland (PHS) publishes quarterly official statistics on waiting times for pain management services, reported against the national 12 week new outpatient standard. The most recent report was published on 10 March 2026, for the quarter ending 31 December 2025, and is available on the PHS website. However, these data are not disaggregated by sex so we are unable to provide this. The full data set can be found here: Waiting times for pain management services
- Quarter ending 31 December 2025
- Waiting times for pain management services
- Publications
- Public Health Scotland.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S7W-00354 by reference.