Decrease In Welsh Diagnostic Treatment Waiting Times

Waiting times for the number of patients waiting to begin diagnostic treatments in Wales has decreased.

A monthly statistical report of waiting times across Wales shows waiting times for patients starting diagnostic treatments had dropped from the previous month.

The report notes: “The maximum wait for access to specified diagnostic tests is eight weeks and for specified therapy services is 14 weeks. The main target about time to treatment for the NHS in Wales is that 95 per cent of patients will have a referral to treatment time which is less than 26 weeks.”

Figures released for July 2014 show that the number of people who waited more than eight weeks for specified diagnostic services fell over the month from 22,717 to 21,226.

However the statistics also show that the number of people waiting longer than 14 weeks for specified therapy services rose from 1,955 to 1,969 in July.

In the monthly document released by the Welsh Government a more detailed breakdown per Welsh Health board is provided – showing the trends and figures across Wales.

The figures show that Cardiff and Vale University LHB had the highest number and percentage of patients waiting over eight weeks. While Powys Teaching LHB had the lowest number and Hywel Dda University LHB had the lowest
percentage of patients waiting over eight weeks.

Figures for Besti Cadawaladr University show there were 13,077 waiting to start diagnostic therapy services in July, with 2,941 waiting longer than eight weeks to start their treatment.

With regards to waiting times for therapy treatment, 10,030 were waiting to start their treatment in July – with two patients waiting longer than 14 weeks.

The statistical document goes onto note: “Overall, there has been an upward trend in the number of people waiting over eight weeks for diagnostic services over the past 25 months. The number waiting over 8 weeks increased overall
between July 2012 and January 2014 (there were some falls, but the trend was upwards.)

“More recently, there were falls each month between January and March 2014, an increase in the number of people waiting over 8 weeks for diagnostic services between March and May 2014 however, there has been a decrease between May and July 2014.”

July’s monthly statistical release can be found here.