The amount of NHS patients waiting for over six weeks for a diagnostic test has more than doubled in the last year, according to Department of Health statistics.
New figures released show that 10,800 people were waiting for more than six weeks in March 2011, compared to 3,800 in March 2010. This is a representation of 1.9% of patients in contrast to 0.7% of patients at the same time last year.
Across the country over five per cent of patients are waiting for more than six weeks for echocardiography (ECG) and colonoscopy tests.
Significant variation exists across England. While in the North East just 0.03% (ten patients) are waiting more than six weeks, this rises to 5.2% in the South East Coast region.
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