Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, has warned of a “ticking timebomb” when it comes to patients in Lanarkshire waiting on key diagnostic tests.
Mr Simpson’s call comes after new Public Health Scotland Statistics revealed 157,289 patients across Scotland are now waiting on the eight key tests including colonoscopies and endoscopies.
That is an increase of almost 2,000 patients since the last quarter and up over 75 per cent on the number of patients who were waiting in February 2020, the last month before the pandemic struck.
In NHS Lanarkshire, 27,727 were waiting for a test at the end of June. That was an 5 per cent increase since March 2022 (21,706) and a rise of 104 per cent since February 2020 (11,157).
Mr Simpson says the figures are deeply alarming, due to the fact that these tests can help save lives, by ensuring quicker detection.
He added that urgent action is needed from SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf so that patients in Lanarkshire can be seen as quickly as possible and backlogs are urgently tackled.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Graham Simpson said: “The number of patients in my region waiting on these key diagnostic tests is deeply concerning.
“If urgent action is not taken, then I really fear a ticking timebomb is facing patients and staff in NHS Lanarkshire.
“These tests are crucial and we know the sooner patients undergo them, the better their chances of survival are, should they be diagnosed with a life threatening condition.
“Patients need to see urgent action from Humza Yousaf. The number of patients waiting on these tests is continuing to rise and threatens to spiral out of control.
“As NHS Lanarkshire continues to remobilise post-pandemic, we need to see an urgent plan from Humza Yousaf to help the health board get on top of this backlog and ensure patients in Lanarkshire receive tests as quickly as possible.”
