The Department has published diagnostic waiting times figures for June 2011. A number of papers have reported that the number of people waiting more than six weeks for key NHS tests has almost quadrupled in one year.
In response, Health Minister Lord Howe said:
“The number of people waiting over six weeks has come down since last month. This was achieved despite increasing pressures on the NHS, with around 125,000 more diagnostic tests in the three months to June 2011 compared to the same period last year. This shows why we need to modernise the NHS to protect it for future generations.
“We are determined to keep waiting times low. In June 2011, the median waiting time for a diagnostic test was just 1.8 weeks. In June 2010, it was 1.7 weeks showing that waiting times remain low and stable.”