Patients still made to wait too long

SCOTLAND’S patients are continuing to be failed by the NHS with increased waiting times having serious effects on health. The Government’s time guarantee, which states every patient should have treatment within 12 weeks of the decision to treat, continues to be a huge headache for the Scottish Government.

Just 71.3 per cent of people were seen in time – a 2.6 per cent worse performance than the same time last year.

The 18-week referral to treatment standard has also nose-dived, with just 76.9 per cent beginning treatment within this time – compared with 81.2 per cent in September 2018. The figures for diagnostic testing for the quarter ending September show just 82.3 per cent were given their tests within six weeks. This is an improvement on the same time last year but far short of the 100 per cent target. Marion O’Neill, of Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: “When you’re worried about your health, waiting for tests is an anxious time. “This report tells us that a

large number of people, including those with suspected cancer, are waiting longer than the target time for tests.” Outpatients also got a rough deal, with just 76.5 per cent getting a first appointment within 12 weeks – an 0.8 per cent improvement on last year. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the Government would invest a further £6.4million this year to improve patients’ experience.

She said: “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.”