Statistics from Public Health Scotland released on Tuesday show there were 17,399 hip or knee replacements in 2024 in NHS hospitals, compared to 15,170 the previous year and more than the pre-pandemic level of 15,908.
The number of procedures in independent hospitals also increased, from 4917 in 2023 to 5220.
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The average length of stay required for patients undergoing procedures continued a decade-long trend of dropping, falling from five days in 2014 to 2.6 days last year.
During 2024, the figures also show there were 775 hip revision procedures and 415 for knees.
The figures were welcomed by First Minister John Swinney, who said on Twitter/X: “More people than ever are getting the hip and knee operations they need.
“Planned NHS procedures are up, waiting times are down and hospital stays are getting shorter.
“Still more to do, but this is real progress – thanks to the hard work of NHS staff across Scotland.”
More people than ever are getting the hip and knee operations they need.
Planned NHS procedures are up, waiting times are down, and hospital stays are getting shorter.
Still more to do, but this is real progress – thanks to the hard work of NHS staff across Scotland. 👏 pic.twitter.com/speFfzsrrX
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) August 5, 2025
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “These figures show our plan to bring down waiting lists in the NHS is working, making it easier for people in Scotland living with a chronic painful condition to get the treatment or procedure they need.
“I am also pleased to see that patients are spending less time in the hospital following hip, knee, or shoulder replacements, thanks to advancements in both surgical techniques and pain management.
“We will continue to drive improvements like these in the months ahead and I would like to thank NHS staff across the country for their outstanding efforts in facilitating this additional activity, which is positively impacting people’s lives.”