More than 20,000 patients in Forth Valley are currently on hospital lists awaiting treatment, according to new figures.
The data released by Public Health Scotland reveals the numbers waiting on both outpatient appointments and inpatient or day care admissions.
In the final quarter up to the end of last year, a total of 16,980 people were still waiting on outpatient care in the region - with just under half of these (8,024) having waited more than 12 weeks.
Meanwhile, the number waiting to secure inpatient support - more complex treatment that requires usage of a hospital bed for a short time - sat at 3,196.
The delays are reflected in the trend nationally as health boards across Scotland seek to work their way through a backlog of routine operations held off while hospitals fought the Covid pandemic.
The same three month stint to the end of December 2021 saw a record high in the number of people on hospital waiting lists in Scotland, with just over 538,000 people still seeking basic appointments and surgeries.
Meanwhile, in Forth Valley, the PHS data also reveals the extent of long-term waits for support locally as a total of 466 people have been on the list for inpatient and outpatient care for a year or more.
An NHS Forth Valley spokeswoman pointed out other data which showed a rise in the number of people seen over the last year as 19,287 did receive inpatient and outpatient care in the final months of last year up to December as the health board got back on its feet.
The spokeswoman also pointed out that the data did not show those attending repeat or return appointments.
They added: “All areas of Scotland have seen an increase in waiting lists due to the impact of non-urgent appointments, operations and scans being paused at the beginning of the pandemic and rising demand for services over the last six months.
“To help address all NHS Boards have developed recovery plans which set out targets to increase activity and reduce waiting times over the next year.
“We are on track to meet the targets set out in our local recovery plan and the number of outpatient appointments has increased steadily over the last year with more than 17,000 outpatient appointments taking place during the last quarter of 2021.
“The number of patients waiting for inpatient or daycase treatment also reduced during this period.
“Patients with more urgent or complex clinical needs and those who have experienced the longest waits continue to be given priority and individuals whose operations were postponed over the last six weeks have now either been seen or given a new date for surgery over the next few weeks.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Dean Lockhart said: “The complacency of the SNP Government is truly shocking.
“Their NHS recovery plan is hopelessly inadequate but they refuse to act. We have staggering numbers on the waiting lists.
“These numbers represent thousands of people waiting for tests or care that could be vitally important for their health.
“Where is the support the overworked NHS staff desperately need? Everyone on these waiting lists and the dedicated staff trying to cope are being failed by their own government.”
Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed said: “The pandemic has put our NHS under severe pressure and these figures are a reminder of the unprecedented challenges the NHS has faced as it continues to work through the backlog.
“The Scottish Government recognises the pressures on the NHS, and that some NHS Boards have had to take necessary steps to protect urgent care.
“As is the case across Scotland, hospitals in the Forth Valley have experienced significant capacity pressures and are working incredibly hard to reduce delays for the patients affected.
“The Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Boards to ensure resilience against these pressures alongside the effective remobilisation of services, in line with the NHS Recovery Plan published on August 25.”
