Waiting times for Department of Health Diagnostics

Updated Friday, August 27, 2010 - 00:30
Published Fri, 08/07/2009 - 09:06
Monthly data shows the NHS' progress in tackling the waiting times for diagnostic tests like scans.   It gives the waiting times for 15 key diagnostic tests carried out in the NHS.



Main findings this month:



  • The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 6 weeks for one of the 15 key diagnostics tests at the end of June 2009 was 3,900, the same number as in May 2009, but a fall of 6,100 (61.0%) from June 2008.


  • The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks for one of the 15 key diagnostics tests at the end of June 2009 was 310, compared to 319 in May 2009, and a fall of 1,676 (84.4%) from June 2008.




Links:



Diagnostic data:



18 week website



Imaging and Radiodiagnostic activity, financial year 2008/09



This data shows the number of Imaging and Radiodiagnostic examinations or tests carried out in the financial year 2008/09 in NHS Trusts in England, split by imaging modality.



The key points  are:



  • The total number of imaging examinations or tests, covering the period 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009 was 35,800,000 compared to 34,700,000 in the period April 1 2007 to 31 March 2008. This is an increase of 3.3%.


  • Of these imaging examinations or tests, 21.3 million were X-Rays (radiographs), 3.4 million were Computed Tomography (CT), 1.7 million were Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), 7.5 million were Ultrasound, 0.6 million for Radio isotopes and 1.2 million for Fluoroscopy.




Full tables
The abbreviation for computed tomography, a scan that generates a series of cross-sectional x-ray images Full medical glossary
An organ with the ability to make and secrete certain fluids. Full medical glossary
An abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, a technique for imaging the body that uses electromagnetic waves and a strong magnetic field. Full medical glossary