Waiting time shambles for one in three patients
longer than the six week standard for a diagnostic test such as a CT or MRI scan.
Across Ayrshire and Arran it means that, of the 7,170 patients waiting for a key diagnostic test, 2,394 have been waiting more than six weeks.
A standard waiting time of six weeks was set by the Scottish Government in 2009 for diagnostic tests such as CT and MRI scans to aid early detection of conditions like cancer or brain tumours.
South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “These are extremely worrying figures and prove how much pressure local NHS boards are facing.
“Behind these figures are patients being left too long to get the results of extremely important tests.
“The longer patients have to wait for a diagnosis the longer they have to suffer in pain and the more difficult it becomes to treat, if necessary.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Over and above our £ 102 million investment for waiting times, we will also invest a further £ 6.4 million this year to deliver improvements for patients across Scotland.
“Our immediate focus is to reduce waits for patients whose treatment is urgent, who have a suspicion of cancer, and those who have waited longest for an appointment.”
NHS Ayrshire and Arran chief executive, John Burns, said: “Within NHS Ayrshire & Arran, achievement of this target has been challenging and this is reflected in our performance.
“However, we are committed to improving our position and have been implementing change in our endoscopy services by taking forward actions recommended by the Scottish Access Collaborative.
“We have accessed additional MRI capacity from the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, as well as bringing a mobile MRI van to Ayrshire and Arran 10 days each month.
“We will continue to use waiting times improvement funding to ensure we work to deliver better access to diagnostic tests.”
He added: “We apologise to patients who are having to wait longer than the recommended timeframe for these diagnostic