NHS waiting lists in Scotland have soared to a new record high of more than 840,000, the latest figures showed today.

Official stats have revealed that 864,366 patients are waiting either for an appointment, for tests or for hospital treatment.

That includes more than 9,000 patients who have been waiting at least two years for either in-patient or day care treatment in a hospital, or for an out-patient appointment.

Public Health Scotland data from the end of June 2024 also showed there were 1,324 patients who have been waiting three years or more for hospital treatment, either as an in-patient or on a day care basis.

They were among the 7,146 Scots who have been waiting two years or more for such treatment.

Overall there were 155,558 patients waiting for hospital treatment as of June 30, with the figures also showing 558,896 people waiting for an out-patient appointment at this time.

This includes 2,024 people have been on the list for more than 104 weeks for such an appointment.

Scottish Labour condemned the SNP government over the “human cost” of its failure to support the NHS.

The party highlighted that not a single one of the SNP government’s national targets for tackling long waits for planned care, announced in July 2022, has been successfully delivered.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “It is simply unacceptable that a record 864,366 Scots are stuck in pain on waiting lists due to almost two decades of SNP incompetence.

“The fact is that the SNP’s failure has put lives at risk, undermined the very existence of our NHS and let down the people of Scotland.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Significant activity is already under way following the £30m investment to target backlogs, announced in the spring.”