The Scottish Conservatives have expressed alarm over new statistics showing that 102,716 patients across Scotland were waiting to be seen for eight key diagnostic tests at the end of September this year.
New figures from Public Health Scotland revealed a near 20 per cent increase in waiting times for Scottish NHS patients seeking tests over the last year.
The figures also revealed that 57.9% of patients in the NHS Highland region were waiting for more than 26 weeks for an endoscopy test – the worst figures in Scotland – and well above the national average of 40%.
Shadow health secretary, Donald Cameron, MSP said:
“The SNP’s dismal record on health continues to get even worse with these new statistics. While we can all understand the unique challenges brought to bear on our health service during COVID-19, the SNP Government cannot be allowed to deflect blame for this significant rise in waiting times."
“And, as a Highlands and Islands representative, I can’t help being very worried that more than half of people in my region who are waiting for an endoscopy are having to wait for more than six months."
“My heart goes out to the over 100,000 patients across Scotland left waiting to receive these tests, as the delays will be causing further stress on top of their health conditions.”
The figures can be found here: https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/healthcare-resources/waiting-times/nhs-waiting-times-diagnostics/
