Diagnostics Task and Finish Group Report - 18 Weeks

Graph 218001600140012001000NHS Scotland8 Key Diagnostic TestsNumber of Patients who waited over 4 weeks by TestUpper EndoscopyLower EndocopyColonoscopyCystoscopyCT ScansMRI ScansBarium StudiesUltrasound8006004002000Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11Figure 2: Number of Patients Who Waited Over 4 Weeks For Each Key TestThe peak in the number of patients waiting over 4 weeks for an ultrasound test occurredin one Board, which has since been addressed. The Board is continuously andproactively working to avoid any further build up of long waiting patients.EndoscopyAlthough Boards are managing, in the main, to keep their waiting times for Endoscopybetween 4-6 weeks, at times this can present a significant challenge. In particular,managing cancer patients within 2 weeks can be difficult. There are also issues aroundsurveillance patients, who are not appropriate to be included in the 18 Weeks RTTStandard as they are on a much longer recall programme, however, they do require to beseen within a defined clinically appropriate timeframe and it is important that clinicalpriorities are not distorted due to waiting times standards. This particular issue is beingdiscussed with the Cancer Strategy Team and a Colonoscopy short Life Working Grouphas been formed to undertake a national piece of work around this.Extended DMMIIn terms of the improvement in waiting times for the 6 additional tests, Figure 3 belowshows that this is still a significant challenge, however, good progress has been made.Individual performance by test can be seen in Figure 4.Diagnostics Task and Finish Group Report - V1.0 December 201115