NHS performance comparisons across the UK: FOI release

Information requested

For the avoidance of doubt, I do not expect you to carry out a full comparison of NHS Scotland against NHS English Trusts. I only seek the data that already exists in possession of the Scottish Government which is used and quoted on a regular basis. I would suggest simply asking a few of the SNP MPs to provide the data / information.

For context this was subsequent to your request below of 26 May 2024: Its has been the case on several occasions the Scottish Government has claimed that the NHS in Scotland is better than the NHS in England. Even last night on question time TV SNP MP claimed it was better. Please provide the evidence / recordes which provides the basis for this claim. Or the records data sent to MPs to form this opinion.

Response

I have interpreted that your request is for information relating to aspects of the NHS in Scotland cited publicly by SNP MPs (noting that MPs are not part of the Scottish Government) in comparison to elsewhere in the UK, specifically A&E waiting times, Cancer waiting times and nurses’ pay (these having been cited on the BBC ‘Question Time’ episode broadcast on 16 May 2024). If there are other aspects of the NHS or specific statements by the Scottish Government on which you require information, then I would be happy to assist.

The answer to your question is as follows (NB. there are comparability issues for information relating to NHS Scotland and to elsewhere in the UK; further information on this can be provided upon request if required). The information on A&E waiting times is in Annex A; the information on Cancer waiting times is in Annex B; and the information on nurses pay, covered by the Agenda for Change pay scales, is in Annex C.

Annex A
A&E PERFORMANCE COMPARISON ACROSS UK
Core/Type 1/Major Emergency Department Sites Only:

Month ()	Scotland	England	Wales
Apr-22	69.0	59.0	55.7
May-22	69.9	60.1	56.3
Jun-22	67.9	58.7	56.4
Jul-22	66.4	57.1	55.4
Aug-22	66.0	58.0	55.8
Sep-22	65.6	56.9	57.7
Oct-22	64.0	54.8	56.7
Nov-22	64.0	54.5	57.8
Dec-22	58.3	49.6	54.2
Jan-23	65.2	58.0	60.5
Feb-23	66.3	56.8	62.6
Mar-23	64.5	56.8	60.0
Apr-23	65.7	60.9	60.1
May-23	67.2	60.4	62.0
Jun-23	69.0	60.2	62.5
Jul-23	69.5	60.9	60.3
Aug-23	67.9	59.1	58.2
Sep-23	66.5	57.6	59.5
Oct-23	64.8	55.9	58.2
Nov-23	63.6	55.4	59.1
Dec-23	62.5	54.7	56.5
Jan-24	62.0	55.4	58.0
Feb-24	63.8	56.5	57.2
Mar-24	64.0	60.9	57.0
Apr-24	64.0	60.4	59.4

Annex B
CANCER WAITING TIMES
Comparisons with other UK nations – 62 day compliance

It should be noted that data is not comparable due to the way the data is recorded and adjusted.

Quarter	Scotland	England (85% target)	Wales (75% target)	N Ireland (95% target)
Q4 2020	86.2%	75.0%	65.0%	56.0%
Q1 2021	83.0%	71.9%	63.6%	46.5%
Q2 2021	84.1%	74.0%	67.9%	53.1%
Q3 2021	83.3%	70.5%	62.7%	46.1%
Q4 2021	79.1%	67.6%	59.5%	43.2%
Q1 2022	76.9%	64.2%	58.5%	41.0%
Q2 2022	76.3%	66.1%	56.4%	37.7%
Q3 2022	75.1%	65.0%	55.1%	39.5%
Q4 2022	71.7%	65.1%	53.0%	36.5%
Q1 2023	69.4%	63.2%	55.3%	34.8%
Q2 2023	73.7%	63.5%	54.3%	36.9%
Q3 2023	72.0%	65.0%	56.9%	34.0%
Q4 2023	71.1%	64.7%	55.8%	30.0%
Q1 2024	70.4%	64.9%	55.3%

*N Ireland have not yet released Q1 2024 figures
**From Q2 2022 England have revised their inclusion criteria, thus from Q2 2022 performance for England is slightly adjusted compared to previous quarters.

Annex C
Agenda for Change: 2023-24 pay scales
Minimum annual salary for healthcare jobs

Band or equivalent	England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
* Band 3	£22,816	£25,468	£23,159	£20,330
* Band 4	£25,147	£27,598	£25,524	£22,549
* Band 5	£28,407	£30,229	£28,834	£25,645
* Band 6	£35,392	£37,831	£35,922	£32,306
* Band 7	£43,742	£46,244	£44,398	£40,057
* Band 8a	£50,952	£56,992	£51,706	£47,126
* Band 8b	£58,972	£67,285	£59,857	£54,764
* Band 8c	£70,417	£79,466	£71,473	£65,664
* Band 8d	£83,571	£94,345	£84,825	£78,192
* Band 9	£99,891	£111,595	£101,390	£93,735

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