Number of people waiting more than 6 weeks for NHS tests quadruples

Despite pledges by David Cameron to keep waiting times low, newly released figures indicate that the number of people waiting more than six weeks for key NHS tests has quadrupled in one year*.

In June 2010 there were 3,500 people waiting more than six weeks for one of 15 key tests, including lifesaving MRI, CT and heart scans. This figure rose to over 12,500 in June 2011.

There has also been a nine-fold increase in the number of people waiting more than two months for one of the tests, rising from 190 in June last year to a massive 1,763 this summer.

Last week, foundation trusts warned that the four-hour target for people to be seen in A&E was under serious threat.

Labour warn that the NHS is ‘going backwards’ under the Tory influence. Labour health spokesman John Healey said: “It is clear David Cameron’s reckless reorganisation of the Health Service is starting to impact on patient care.”

The issue of hospital waiting times is one of the key reasons people turn to private health insurance. A survey carried out this year by private medical cover provider Bupa showed that eight out of ten Britons feel the NHS target of 18 months is too long to wait for treatment when in physical and emotional pain.

* Source: The Department of Health

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