Dumfries and Galloway has shown the largest percentage increase in Scotland in the number of people waiting for hip replacement or repair surgery, according to figures released by Reform Scotland.

The figures, obtained through a freedom of information request, show the number of people on a waiting list for a hip replacement in the region jumped 386 per cent from 2019 to 2023, from 66 in 2019 to 321 in 2023.

The average wait time for orthopaedic operations in Dumfries and Galloway jumped from 96 in 2019 to 249 in 2023, an increase of 159 per cent.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “These figures are deeply worrying but they will come as no surprise to the hundreds of people in Dumfries and Galloway who are waiting, in terrible pain, for a hip operation.

“Our amazing NHS is doing all it can, but services across the board are on their knees and staff are struggling.

“For years the Scottish Government blamed the pandemic for every problem in our health service, but these figures show just how bad things have been allowed to get.

“Health Secretaries have ignored warning after warning about the pressure on NHS services and the impossible demands being placed on staff without the necessary numbers of doctors and nurses they need.

“We urgently need a real plan to be put in place so that everyone can get the treatment they need, when they need it.”