Waiting times for Urology in NHS Lothian have increased dramatically over the last two years. The number of patients waiting more than 6 weeks has increased from 1,640 in June 2016 to 4,467 in June 2018.
The percentage seen within 6 weeks has dropped from 82.9% in June 2016 to 67.8% in June 2018, and the performance against the 62-day standard from receipt of an urgent referral with suspicion of cancer to first cancer treatment by NHS Board has dropped from 83.8% in June 2016 to 66% in June 2018.
Scottish Conservatives health spokesman Miles Briggs wrote to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman raising his concerns (see letter below) and has received a response with funding that will be provided to improve Urology services.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “Under the SNPs watch Urology services, both diagnostic and referral to treatment, have been in steady decline.
“I welcome the additional funding to improve services, but waits should never have been allowed to get this long.
“This is yet another are of our health service where SNP mismanagement of NHS Scotland’s workforce over the last decade has meant that Scottish people suffer as a consequence.”
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