{
  "fields": [{"type":"int","id":"_id"},{"type":"text","id":"loc_name"},{"type":"text","id":"dqNotesIP"},{"type":"text","id":"dqNotesOP"},{"type":"text","id":"dqNotesBeds"}],
  "records": [
    [1,"National Waiting Times Centre","SMR01 completeness for the National Waiting Times Centre (NWTC) for quarter ending December 2025 was 47%. The board have advised that this due to staffing issues, including long term sickness, and time spent training new staff.\n\n\nDecreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year, likely due to their SMR backlog and lower completeness level. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n\nFrom the pandemic onwards, the Golden Jubilee National Hospital has been broadening its scope of work and has been receiving a lot of new activity from other NHS Boards across various specialties.  Since the end of the pandemic, there has been a long-term expansion plan to take on more General Surgery cases, which includes diagnostic endoscopies, colorectal, upper and lower GI. The hospital has been increasing their theatre capacity in line with their new theatre expansion in August/September 2024. This has seen an increase in both General Surgery and Orthopaedics. The NWTC also advised that they expect some variation and peaks in monthly general surgery episode activity due to seasonality, workforce and monthly allocations.","SMR00 completeness for the NWTC for the quarter ending December 2025 was 99% for new attendances and 98% for return attendances.\n\nIncreases were seen in all outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n\nFrom the pandemic onwards, the Golden Jubilee National Hospital has been broadening its scope of work and has been receiving a lot of new activity from other NHS Boards across various specialties.  Since the end of the pandemic, there has been a long-term expansion plan to take on more General Surgery cases, which includes diagnostic endoscopies, colorectal, upper and lower GI. The hospital has been increasing their theatre capacity in line with their new theatre expansion in August/September 2024. This has seen an increase in both General Surgery and Orthopaedics. The NWTC also advised that they expect some variation and peaks in monthly general surgery episode activity due to seasonality, workforce and monthly allocations.","Decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy increased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n\nFrom the pandemic onwards, the Golden Jubilee National Hospital has been broadening its scope of work and has been receiving a lot of new activity from other NHS Boards across various specialties.  Since the end of the pandemic, there has been a long-term expansion plan to take on more General Surgery cases, which includes diagnostic endoscopies, colorectal, upper and lower GI. The hospital has been increasing their theatre capacity in line with their new theatre expansion in August/September 2024. This has seen an increase in both General Surgery and Orthopaedics. The NWTC also advised that they expect some variation and peaks in monthly general surgery episode activity due to seasonality, workforce and monthly allocations."],
    [2,"NHS Ayrshire & Arran","SMR01 completeness for NHS Ayrshire & Arran for the quarter ending December 2025 was 99%.\n\nIncreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n","SMR00 completeness for NHS Ayrshire & Arran for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances.\n\nOverall outpatient attendances increased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased.\n\nIncreases were seen in new outpatient attendances at University Hospital Ayr in October-December 2025 compared to same quarter of the previous year, particularly in the specialties of Dermatology, Urology, and Ear, Nose and Throat. The board have advised that this is due to increased clinic activity to reduce long waiters.\n\n\n","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds and percentage occupancy when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year.\n"],
    [3,"NHS Borders","SMR01 completeness for NHS Borders for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100%. \n\nIncreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year.\n\nLarge increases have been observed within the Respiratory Medicine specialty from 2023/24 onwards.  The board have advised that for the period of January 2024 to September 2025 there were records of Transfers which were erroneously submitted, coders have now completed the relevant correction work.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Borders for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for new attendances and 99% for return attendances.\n\nDecreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased.\n\nIncreases were seen in new Ophthalmology attendances in Borders General Hospital in October-December 2025 compared with same quarter in the previous year. Data Management is investigating with the board.","Decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy increased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\nDecreases were seen in NHS Borders beds figures within the Geriatric Medicine specialty. The board have advised that these decreases are due to a ward closure."],
    [4,"NHS Dumfries & Galloway","SMR01 completeness for NHS Dumfries & Galloway for quarter ending December 2025 was 98%.\n\nDecreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. ","SMR00 completeness) for NHS Dumfries & Galloway for the quarter ending December 2025 was 91% for new attendances and 92% for return attendances. \n\nDecreases were seen in all outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year.\n \nData Management has advised that there is a continuing NHS Dumfries & Galloway backlog. PHS Data Management has received no SMR00 Child & Adolescent Psychiatry records since March 2023 as the board is unable to extract these from their Morse system. The board have advised that they expect to resolve this issue in the future.","Slight decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while the percentage occupancy increased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year."],
    [5,"NHS Fife","SMR01 completeness for NHS Fife for the quarter ending December 2025 was 95%.\n\nDecreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, elective and emergency inpatient activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Day case activity increased during the same period.\n\nSince March 2023, the National Treatment Centre (NTC) in NHS Fife has been undertaking inpatient and day case activity. It is important to note that not all NTCs have a unique location code, and may be an expansion of an existing location. This trends section includes data from the NTC locations submitted via the national data returns. At present, it is not possible to accurately differentiate in national data returns between NTC activity and the rest of the activity at NHS Golden Jubilee or NHS Forth Valley. As such, the national data NTC figures reported in this trends section may not be reflective of all NTC activity. Therefore, management information data submissions are received from the NHS Boards and are available in the Data Files section.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Fife for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances. \n\nIncreases were seen in all outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\n","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds and percentage occupancy when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\n"],
    [6,"NHS Forth Valley","SMR01 completeness for NHS Forth Valley for the quarter ending December 2025 was 99%.\n\nIncreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\nSince October 2024, the National Treatment Centre (NTC) in NHS Forth Valley has been undertaking inpatient and day case activity. It is important to note that not all NTCs have a unique location code and may be an expansion of an existing location. This trends section includes data from the NTC locations submitted via the national data returns. At present, it is not possible to accurately differentiate in national data returns between NTC activity and the rest of the activity at NHS Golden Jubilee or NHS Forth Valley. As such, the national data NTC figures reported in this trends section may not be reflective of all NTC activity. Therefore, management information data submissions are received from the NHS Boards and are available in the Data Files section.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Forth Valley for the quarter ending December 2025 was 97% for new and 93% for return attendances.\n\nDecreases were seen in all outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\n\n","Decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds and percentage occupancy when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year.\n\n"],
    [7,"NHS Grampian","SMR01 completeness for NHS Grampian for the quarter ending December 2025 was 87%. NHS Grampian's SMR backlog has been improving in recent months, but historic backlog issues still remain for previous quarters. Data Management has advised that the SMR backlog is due to resourcing issues. The board have informed that their approach to coding has been revised, with focus on the current submission month on a rolling basis. Due to reduced coding capacity, future submission rates are expected to range between 55% and 75% from June 2026. Work on historic activity and error correction will be reviewed if resources permit.\n\nIncreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. This is likely due to the higher completeness level in October-December 2025 when compared to October-December 2024.\n\nIncreases were seen in NHS Grampian within the Gastroenterology specialty. Data Management are investigating this with the board.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Grampian for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances. \n\nIncreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased. \n\nIncreases have been observed in Ear, Nose, and Throat return attendances. Data management are investigating with the board. \n\nLarge increases have been seen in Plastic Surgery new attendances. Data management are investigating this with the board.","Decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds and percentage occupancy when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. "],
    [8,"NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde","SMR01 completeness for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde for the quarter ending December 2025 was 97%.\n\nDecreases were seen in all inpatient and day case activity, emergency inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Elective inpatient activity increased during the same period.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances.\n\nSlight decreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased.\n\nDecreases have been observed in Gynaecology attendances. Data management are investigating this with the board.","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy decreased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\nLarge increases have been observed in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde bed figures within the Endocrinology and diabetes specialty. Data Management are currently investigating this with the board.\n\nDecreases have been seen in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde bed figures within the Psychiatry of old age specialty. The board have advised that reductions are due to no longer having these beds in a nursing home."],
    [9,"NHS Highland","SMR01 completeness for NHS Highland for the quarter ending December 2025 was 96%. \n\nDecreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, emergency inpatient activity, and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Elective inpatient activity increased during the same period.\n\nDuring 2023, large decreases have been observed in day cases for the Haematology specialty. Data Management is currently investigating this with the board.\n\nSince April 2023, the National Treatment Centre (NTC) in NHS Highland has been undertaking inpatient and day case activity. It is important to note that not all NTCs have a unique location code and may be an expansion of an existing location. This trends section includes data from the NTC locations submitted via the national data returns. At present, it is not possible to accurately differentiate in national data returns between NTC activity and the rest of the activity at NHS Golden Jubilee or NHS Forth Valley. As such, the national data NTC figures reported in this trends section may not be reflective of all NTC activity. Therefore, management information data submissions are received from the NHS Boards and are available in the Data Files section","SMR00 completeness for NHS Highland for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances.\n\nIncreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased.\n\nDecreases have been seen in return Anaesthetics attendances in NHS Highland from 2022/23 onwards. The board have informed that they are investigating, but the decreases could potentially be due to clinic/clinician setup issues in Trak.\n\nDecreases have been observed in Gastroenterology attendances.  The board have informed that they are investigating, but the decreases could potentially be due to clinic/clinician setup issues in Trak.","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy decreased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\n"],
    [10,"NHS Lanarkshire","SMR01 completeness for NHS Lanarkshire for the quarter ending December 2025 was 98%. \n\nDecreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, emergency inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Elective inpatient activity increased during the same period.\n\nIncreases were seen in NHS Lanarkshire for day cases within the Urology specialty. The board have advised that this reflects a real increase in routine activity.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Lanarkshire for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for new and 99% for return attendances. \n\nIncreases were seen in all outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\n","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy decreased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. \n\nLarge decreases have been observed in average available staffed beds within the Gastroenterology specialty in NHS Lanarkshire. Data Management are currently investigating this with the board."],
    [11,"NHS Lothian","SMR01 completeness for NHS Lothian for the quarter ending December 2025 was 91%. Data management have advised that the slightly lower completeness levels are due to a backlog over the festive period which should be resolved over the coming months.\n\nIncreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, emergency inpatient activity and day cases when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Elective inpatient activity decreased during the same period.\n\nDecreases have been observed in NHS Lothian inpatient and day case activity within the Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery specialty in April to June 2025. The board have advised that there is a coding backlog for the Orthopaedic specialty affecting the data for this time period. This covers all NHS Lothian sites which have the Orthopaedic specialty, but the bulk of the cases which have not been coded are in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Lothian for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances. \n\nIncreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased slightly.\n\nIncreases in Psychiatry of Old Age attendances have been seen from 2025 onwards. The board have confirmed this change is due to the fixing of configuration issues in Trak.\n\nLarge increases in Urology new attendances have been seen in the Western General Hospital. The board have advised that these increases are a result of a system reconfiguration of a Trak build.","Large decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy remained unchanged when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year.\n\nDecreases have been seen in NHS Lothian's inpatient bed figures within the Accident & Emergency specialty. Data Management are currently investigating this with the board.\n\nDecreases have been seen in NHS Lothian available beds figures within the Geriatric Medicine and Psychiatry of old age specialties. The board have advised that decreases in Geriatric Medicine are due to the closure of one of the elderly medicine wards and this being used as a decant ward for Acute Medicine patients. The reductions in the Psychiatry of old age specialty are due to service reconfigurations such as site closure and repurposing. \n\nLarges decreases have been observed in average available staffed beds within the Rehabilitation Medicine specialty in NHS Lothian. The board have advised that the reduction is due to the transfer of activity away from a hospital site."],
    [12,"NHS Orkney","SMR01 completeness for NHS Orkney for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100%.\n\nDecreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, emergency inpatient activity and elective inpatient activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Day case activity increased during the same period. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers which will impact on the percentage change.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Orkney for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances.\n\nDecreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Return outpatient activity decreased, while new outpatient activity increased. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change. \n","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds and percentage occupancy when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change."],
    [13,"NHS Shetland","SMR01 completeness for NHS Shetland for the quarter ending December 2025 was 93%. Data Management has advised that the SMR backlog is due to resourcing issues, but that NHS Shetland have funding for coding resource, and improvement has been seen in recent submissions.\n\nDecreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. This is likely due to the SMR backlog and lower completeness level. Emergency inpatient and elective inpatient activity both increased during the same period. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n\nNHS Shetland has previously said that there will be fluctuations monthly, quarterly and annually, and that this is natural variation due to the small numbers involved within its services.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Shetland for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100% for both new and return attendances.  \n\nIncreases were seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. New outpatient activity increased, while return outpatient activity decreased. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n\nNHS Shetland has previously said that there will be fluctuations monthly, quarterly and annually, and that this is natural variation due to the small numbers involved in its services.","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy decreased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n\nNHS Shetland has previously said that there will be fluctuations monthly, quarterly, and annually, and that this is natural variation due to the small numbers involved in its services."],
    [14,"NHS Tayside","SMR01 completeness for NHS Tayside for the quarter ending December 2025 was 96%. \n\nIncreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, emergency inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Elective inpatient activity decreased during the same period. \n","SMR00 completeness for NHS Tayside for the quarter ending December 2025 was 92% for new attendances and 85% for return attendances.  Data Management has advised that NHS Tayside's SMR backlog is due to Trakcare system issues around amending errors and resubmitting records.\n\nNo percentage change was seen in overall outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Return outpatient activity slightly increased, while new outpatient activity increased. \n\nLarge increases in return Anaesthetics attendances have been seen in NHS Tayside from 2022 onwards, driven by large increases at Ninewells and Stracathro Hospitals. Data Management is currently investigating this with the board but have advised that these increases may be due to activity being incorrectly recorded as consultant-led activity rather than nurse-led.","Increases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy decreased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year.\n\nDuring 2022-2023, large increases have been observed in NHS Tayside's bed figures, particularly for the General Medicine specialty. Data Management have investigated and informed that the board have been recording bed complements against a clinical / significant facility (significant facility 39 Ambulatory Emergency Care) that only provides outpatient and day case services. This recording practice reduced from 2024 onwards. NHS Tayside has now corrected the 2022-2024 beds data and resubmitted."],
    [15,"NHS Western Isles","SMR01 completeness for NHS Western Isles for the quarter ending December 2025 was 100%.\n\nIncreases were seen in overall inpatient and day case activity, Emergency inpatient and day case activity when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. Elective inpatient activity decreased during the same period. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers which will impact on the percentage change.","SMR00 completeness for NHS Western Isles for the quarter ending December 2025 was 73% for new and 66% for return attendances. Data Management have advised this is due to issues with NHS Western Isles submitting a particular batch of December records, and that this should be rectified in the near future.  \n\nDecreases were seen in all outpatient attendances when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change. \n\n","Decreases were seen in the average number of available staffed beds, while percentage occupancy increased when comparing October-December 2025 to the same quarter of the previous year. However, it should be noted that any changes are based on relatively small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change. \n\nNHS Western Isles have said that their bed reductions since December 2004 to November 2025 are due to ward reconfigurations such as covid ward beds are no longer classed as staffed available."],
    [16,"Non-NHS Provider","Non-NHS Provider figures relate to patients treated in non-NHS locations such as private hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, care homes, etc. Patients who receive treatment paid for by the respective NHS Board at a private (independent) hospital should be recorded within the SMR by the relevant NHS Board. However, if a patient is treated privately (where treatment is paid for by the patient or a private insurer) and there is no NHS involvement, then this activity will not be recorded within the SMR.\n\nThe data recording/completeness of non-NHS provider data varies from year to year. PHS does not collate information on the completeness of activity recorded by non-NHS providers, and such data may not be reflective of all non-NHS provider activity. Therefore, please treat any data provided with caution. It should also be noted that any changes in activity (both increases and decreases) are based on small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.","Non-NHS Provider figures relate to patients treated in non-NHS locations such as private hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, care homes, etc. Patients who receive treatment paid for by the respective NHS Board at a private (independent) hospital should be recorded within the SMR by the relevant NHS Board. However, if a patient is treated privately (where treatment is paid for by the patient or a private insurer) and there is no NHS involvement, then this activity will not be recorded within the SMR.\n\nThe data recording/completeness of non-NHS provider data varies from year to year. PHS does not collate information on the completeness of activity recorded by non-NHS providers, and such data may not be reflective of all non-NHS provider activity. Therefore, please treat any data provided with caution. It should also be noted that any changes in activity (both increases and decreases) are based on small numbers, which will impact on the percentage change.\n",""],
    [17,"National Facility NHS Louisa Jordan","NHS Louisa Jordan undertook day case activity (across several specialties) from January 2021 up until the end of March 2021, when the hospital closed.\n","NHS Louisa Jordan undertook outpatient activity (across several specialties) from July 2020 up until the end of March 2021, when the hospital closed.\n\n",""],
    [18,"Scotland","NHSScotland SMR01 data are estimated to be 94% complete for the for the quarter ending December 2025. There are some outstanding records yet to be submitted and some data quality issues to be aware of.\n\nTotal inpatient and day case activity decreased in most boards. The largest decrease was in the National Waiting Times Centre (NWTC) (-42.1%) due to the SMR backlog and lower completeness level. The largest mainland board increase was in NHS Grampian (+23.2%), likely due to the higher completeness level in October-December 2025 when compared to the same quarter of the previous year.\n\nNHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Borders, NHS Forth Valley and NHS Grampian were the only boards where all elective and emergency inpatient and day case activity increased. NHS Dumfries & Galloway, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and the NWTC were the only boards where all elective and emergency inpatient and day case activity decreased.\n\nObserved trends may be influenced by data submission completeness, small numbers, seasonal variation, and wider contextual factors, including the lasting effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on the volume and pattern of acute hospital activity. Therefore, caution should be taken when comparing quarterly information.\n","NHSScotland SMR00 data are estimated to be 99% complete for new attendances and 97% complete for return attendances for the quarter ending December 2025. There are some outstanding records yet to be submitted and some data quality issues to be aware of.\n\nPlease note that there are several NHS Boards where the Data Management Team is unable to accurately measure completeness, as coding reports are not received from these NHS Boards. The NHS Boards affected are Borders, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Highland, Orkney and Shetland. Reported completeness figures may change as more information becomes available.\n\nOutpatient activity increased in most boards. The largest mainland board increase was in NHS Ayrshire and Arran (+8.5%), while the largest decrease was in NHS Borders (-8.3%).\n\nDNA rates decreased in most boards. The largest mainland board DNA rate was in NHS Tayside (9.4%), and the smallest DNA rate was in the National Waiting Times Centre (NWTC) (5.3%).\n\nObserved trends may be influenced by data submission completeness, small numbers, seasonal variation, and wider contextual factors, including the lasting effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on the volume and pattern of acute hospital activity. Therefore, caution should be taken when comparing quarterly information.\n\n","Most NHS Boards increased their average available staffed beds for acute specialties. The largest mainland board increase was in NHS Tayside (+2.8%), while the largest decrease was in NHS Borders (-10.8%).\n\nThe percentage occupancy increased in most boards. The largest mainland board increase in percentage occupancy was in the National Waiting Times Centre (NWTC) (+7.1 percentage points), while the largest decrease was in NHS Forth Valley (-3.0 percentage points).\n  \nThe percentage occupancy was higher than 90% in most boards. The largest mainland board percentage occupancy was in NHS Ayrshire & Arran (97.1%) while the smallest percentage occupancy was in NHS Forth Valley (72.6%).\n\nObserved trends may be influenced by data submission completeness, small numbers, seasonal variation, and wider contextual factors, including the lasting effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on the volume and pattern of acute hospital activity. Therefore, caution should be taken when comparing quarterly information."],
    [19,"Unknown Health Board","","Unknown Health Board refers to locations or residences that cannot be attributed to any of the other NHS Boards. Sharp increases were observed in this category from April 2020 onwards. The main reason for these increases was the submission of records with an 'unknown location' code ('D299N: Location not otherwise coded'). This resulted in the Health Board of treatment not being derived. Instead of being allocated to the actual NHS Board, the activity is instead categorised against Unknown Health Board.\n\nIncreased use of the 'unknown location' code can be attributed to uncertainty in the provision of outpatient clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinics are set up as a mixture of face-to-face, telephone, video link and 'Near Me' appointments. However, this code has been used as a workaround during the pandemic when the location of activity was not known. This made the setting-up of clinics simpler in TrakCare. The unknown location code has been used by several NHS Boards, predominantly by NHS Tayside and NHS Borders, although use of the code substantially decreased around 2022 onwards. Outpatient 'unknowns' are now back to similar pre-pandemic levels.\n\n",""]
]}