Latest figures from Public Health Scotland show that over 100,000 patients across Scotland are waiting for eight key diagnostics tests.
The key eight tests include upper endoscopy, lower endoscopy (excl. colonoscopy), colonoscopy, cystoscopy, CT scan, MRI scan, barium studies and non-obstetric ultrasound.
At 31 December 2020 100,913 patients were waiting to be seen for the eight key diagnostic tests. This represents an increase of 15.3% (+13,370) from 31 December 2019.
In the Borders, figures reveal an increase in those waiting for these tests from 1,205 to 1,807 during the same period.
John Lamont MP and Rachael Hamilton MSP are once again calling on the Scottish Government to outline a plan for when these patients will be seen.
This comes following calls from both politicians earlier in the year regarding the concerning levels of operations backlog at NHS Borders and across Scotland.
John Lamont MP said:
“I want to pay tribute to the exceptional work of our NHS staff throughout this pandemic. They really have been heroes in fighting the virus and rolling out the vaccine.
“Of course, tackling the coronavirus pandemic should be the priority for our NHS, but these patients cannot be forgotten about by the Scottish Government.
“There is a growing number of people waiting on key tests and an inevitable backlog of operations. This will undoubtedly be causing them more stress for patients, on top of their health conditions.
“We need to see the Scottish Government providing financial support for health boards and get a plan in place to outline when these patients will be seen.”
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“Further to Scottish Conservatives calls earlier in the year, I am once again calling on the SNP to produce a timeline on how planned tests, operations and delayed treatments will resume as coronavirus cases reduce.
“Our fantastic healthcare staff and doctors have been working flat-out during this pandemic and need clarity from the Health Secretary as we move forward.
“We need action from the SNP Government now, because the growing number of waiting patients and the backlog of postponed operations and appointments needs careful attention if we are to manage the large volume.”
