![\"Patients](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_male-and-female-doctors-on-the-hospital-ward.jpg\")
Patients have died waiting for care.(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nThe figures have been condemned by the Scottish Conservatives.Patients have died waiting for care.(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Over 20,000 Scots have died while on an NHS waiting list during Neil Gray\u2019s tenure as Health Secretary. The deaths included patients waiting for cancer treatment, cardiac surgery and orthopaedic surgery.<\/a><\/p>\n Gray is in charge of turning the NHS around as hundreds of thousands of Scots languish on a list. New figures obtained by the Tories show some patients have passed away while waiting for treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Freedom of Information requests to all NHS health boards reveal that up to 20,448 patients died between February last year and September 2025. On average, thirty five patients have died every day since Gray was given the health role.<\/a><\/p>\n The highest number was 6,072 deaths in Grampian followed by 5,215 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane condemned the figures: \u201cThese shameful figures lay bare the extent of Neil Gray\u2019s abject failure as health secretary.<\/p>\n \u201cOn his watch, waiting lists have spiralled out of control \u2013 and these delays have led to a tragic toll of avoidable deaths. My thoughts are with those families who are grieving needlessly lost loved ones this Christmas.<\/p>\n \u201cFrontline NHS staff are working tirelessly for patients but they are completely overwhelmed due to the SNP\u2019s dire workforce planning and Humza Yousaf\u2019s flimsy recovery plan. Instead of coming up with a credible plan to get our NHS through winter, Neil Gray has spent time on unworkable gimmicks like walk-in GP clinics that experts say cannot be staffed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must apologise and take urgent action to cut Scotland\u2019s intolerable waiting lists before more patients die preventable deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: SNP MSP sends Keir Starmer P45 in row over how many Scots are losing North Sea oil and gas jobs<\/a>READ MORE: Young Scots in rural areas face ‘very limited’ opportunities due to low pay and poor transport links<\/a><\/p>\n In November, First Minister John Swinney pledged an extra \u00a325.5m to help bring down NHS waiting times.<\/p>\n He said the money would help deliver more hospital appointments.<\/p>\n It is to be shared by nine health boards – Ayrshire and Arran, Fife, Grampian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Highland, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Shetland and Tayside.<\/p>\n Gray said: \u201cMy thoughts at Christmas are of course with those families who have lost loved ones. We know many are still facing unacceptable waits and we are determined to build on recent progress to ensure people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThese figures include deaths for any reason; it is impossible to determine whether they are linked to waits for treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cRecent Public Health Scotland figures show we are turning a corner in our efforts to reduce the backlog caused by the pandemic and our plan is working \u2013 long waits fell for the fifth month in a row to October and we are treating patients more quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n This is a breaking news story – we’ll bring you updates, pictures and video as it happens.<\/p>\n