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8,500 Scots Choose Private Cataract Surgery Amid NHS Delays

7/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In Scotland, a staggering 8,500 individuals turned to private cataract surgery, each paying £2,500, as NHS waiting lists ballooned beyond two years. With 19,000 still waiting—some for over three years—the SNP is under fire for its insufficient strategies to tackle these delays, despite a £106 million boost to health boards for more procedures.

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Story summary

In Scotland, a staggering 8,500 individuals turned to private cataract surgery, each paying £2,500, as NHS waiting lists ballooned beyond two years. With 19,000 still waiting—some for over three years—the SNP is under fire for its insufficient strategies to tackle these delays, despite a £106 million boost to health boards for more procedures.