Number of people waiting more than four weeks for a key diagnostic test in Scotland trebles in two years

The number of people waiting too long for key tests to diagnose serious illness has soared in the last two years as the NHS struggles to meet demand.

Health boards are supposed to be aiming to deliver eight key endoscopy or radiology tests within four weeks. These tests investigate symptoms that could be related to cancer or other serious life-threatening illnesses.

The latest figures show that while the number of people who need these key diagnostic tests has increased from 60,762 to 87,482 in two years to June 2018, the number of people waiting more than four weeks tests has trebled from 10,857 to 31,175.

Those waiting more than six weeks for a test to find out what is wrong with them has soared from 4,750 to 18,644.

This means only 78.7 per cent of patients received the tests they needed within six weeks. The target is that all patients must be seen in this timescale.

Meanwhile in June only 82.8 per cent of patients across Scotland were treated within 18 weeks of being referred, compared to a target of 90 per cent.

Health boards have struggled to meet the ‘whole journey waiting time standard’ of 18 weeks for several years.

The number of patients treated within the 12-week Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG) is also at its lowest level at only 74.6 per cent.

The figures come despite increases in funding for the NHS to tackle the problems.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the Scottish Government would continue to work with boards.

“Meeting the challenge of improving performance and reducing waits requires the twin approach of investment and reform. That’s why we recently allocated an additional £6 million to reduce waiting times for endoscopies, with a focus on the most urgent patients, including those with suspected cancer.

“That is seeing immediate steps to cut the number of people across Scotland waiting for diagnostic testing, with health boards working towards reducing the number of patients waiting over six weeks by 5,000 by the end December 2018.”

Labour’s shadow health secretary Anas Sarwar said the figures were exacerbated by a staffing crisis.

“Performance for key clinical tests simply have to improve – early detection saves lives,” he said. 

“These standards are in place to ensure that people with potentially serious conditions get the benefit of early detection and have the best possible chance of a full recovery.”

Lib Dem health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Literally every week I have people come to see me who have been informed of the guarantee but ended up waiting over a year.

"The First Minister should issue an apology to the tens of thousands of people to whom her Treatment Time Guarantee has meant nothing. The Scottish Government must also urgently set out how it will turn performance around, given there is no end in sight to the recruitment crisis and staff are run off their feet on every shift."

Gregor McNie, Cancer Research UK’s head of external affairs, said: “These statistics suggest that the NHS in Scotland does not have enough staff to be as effective as possible in diagnosing cancer.

“This situation is deeply concerning, particularly as demand for tests is only going to grow due to an aging population and efforts to diagnose more people at an early stage.

“It’s vital patients receive the right tests and results in good time. It’s crucial there are enough imaging, endoscopy and pathology staff working to deliver tests.”