Scotland A&E data for August 2026, published 6 October 2026 · Scotland diagnostics data for June 2026, published 25 August 2026
NHS waiting times in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is in City of Edinburgh, Scotland, where hospital services are run by NHS Lothian. This page shows the latest published Scotland figures for A&E and diagnostic tests for that health board.
These are Scotland figures, not NHS England data. Health services in Scotland are run separately and publish their own statistics, which use different definitions. Figures here come from Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot).
A&E waiting times in Edinburgh
In August 2026, 64.0% of the 27,520 attendances at emergency departments run by NHS Lothian were dealt with within 4 hours, 2.7 points below the Scotland figure of 66.7%. That ranks 11 of 14 health boards in Scotland.
NHS Lothian: % within 4 hours Scotland
Scan and test waiting times in Edinburgh
Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland.
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting over 6 weeks | % over 6 weeks | Scotland % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 3,982 | 954 | 24.0% | 22.6% |
| CT | 2,697 | 341 | 12.6% | 9.3% |
| Ultrasound | 3,944 | 333 | 8.4% | 26.9% |
| Endoscopy | 4,106 | 2,188 | 53.3% | 47.5% |
Nearby towns
MRI waits for the nearest towns on this site.
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI waiting over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkcaldy | 11 miles | NHS Fife | 6.9% | 1,537 |
| Dunfermline | 13 miles | NHS Fife | 6.9% | 1,537 |
| Hamilton | 35 miles | NHS Lanarkshire | 26.3% | 1,592 |
| East Kilbride | 41 miles | NHS Lanarkshire | 26.3% | 1,592 |
| Glasgow | 42 miles | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 24.8% | 8,029 |
| Aberdeen | 93 miles | NHS Grampian | 13.8% | 1,452 |
| Inverness | 113 miles | NHS Highland | 37.7% | 1,098 |
Why England figures are not shown
NHS England statistics cover hospitals in England only. Scotland has its own targets and measures: for example, Scotland reports A&E and diagnostic waits by health board, and counts diagnostic waits over 6 weeks. Comparisons between nations should be made with care. For England, see the England A&E league table.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the A&E wait in Edinburgh?
In August 2026, 64.0% of A&E attendances at NHS Lothian were dealt with within 4 hours, compared with 66.7% across Scotland.
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Edinburgh?
24.0% of the 3,982 people waiting for an MRI at NHS Lothian had waited more than 6 weeks (June 2026).
Who provides NHS hospital services in Edinburgh?
NHS Lothian. In Scotland health services are run by health boards, not NHS England trusts.
Where do these figures come from?
From Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot), published under the Open Government Licence.