Almost 7,000 operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons in 2017
The figure is an improvement on 7,740 the previous year
Almost 7,000 operations were cancelled last year due to factors including a lack of beds and staff.
Official figures show that 6,874 operations were cancelled by hospitals due to capacity or non-clinical reasons in 2017, an average of almost 19 per day.
The figure is an improvement on 7,740 the previous year.
Reasons can include the unavailability of beds, staff and equipment as well as employee illness, dirty equipment and theatre sessions overrunning.
The latest figures show that December was the worst month for such cancellations, with 778 (3.2%) operations not taking place, the highest in any single month since January 2016.
Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said the NHS was under unsustainable'' pressure.
He said: An average of almost 19 operations cancelled every single day in 2017 because hospitals couldn't cope should set alarm bells ringing in the government.
It shows the level of pressure our hospitals are under.
Many of these cases will leave patients living in further pain until they finally get the procedure they need, and that can have knock-on effects for their work, family and mental health.''
Alex Cole-Hamilton, for the Liberal Democrats, said: These cancellations cause stress and disruption to the patients being prepared for operations that didn't take place, as well as their families and NHS staff.
To make matters worse, we already know that the number of cancelled operations in the first month of 2018 is set to be considerably worse, with one consultant describing the situation as 'absolutely catastrophic'.
SNP ministers need to give NHS boards the support they need to be able to keep operations on track.''
Health Secretary Shona Robison said December had been exceptionally challenging'' as a result of winter pressures including icy conditions and an increased flu rate.
She said: Despite those challenges across the system, over 700 operations a day took place and just 3.2% of planned operations were cancelled due to capacity or non-clinical reasons.
That is due to sound winter contingency planning and thanks to health and social care staff going the extra mile and delivering exemplary care.
Individual boards will always take decisions in response to local circumstances and, while cancellations are unavoidable, we are clear that patients with the greatest clinical need should not have their operations cancelled.''