Plans for Scottish hospitals to resume routine operations as part of coronavirus lockdown exit

Health chiefs are beginning to plan the resumption of hospital surgery and treatments as part of the exit from lockdown, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

Hospitals across Scotland stopped all but the most urgent surgery earlier this year, in order to allow staff and facilities to be focused on fighting coronavirus.

Now the Scottish Government says planning has begun for surgery and other treatments to resume.

A spokesman said: “We are now beginning to plan how NHS boards will begin to restart services, across primary and acute care.

“This will be using a phased approach.”

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Radiologists yesterday said it had “significant concerns” over a decrease in suspected cancer referrals and emergency hospital attendances.

Dr Jeanette Dickson, college president, said: “Those patients who have had their initial surgery delayed are at risk of their cancer having grown in the meantime.”