More to do on long NHS test waits

But Aneurin Bevan University Health Board still accounts for more than half of all patients in Wales who are waiting beyond eight weeks.

The latest figures, to February 28, show 3,557 patients had been waiting longer than the target eight weeks for tests such as MRI and ultrasound scans, and endoscopic procedures.

That compares favourably with the 4,359 at the end of February 2016, but means much remains to do to tackle the issue.

The next highest number of patients waiting longer than eight weeks for a test was in Cardiff & Vale University Health Board (1,980).

Key areas of difficulty in Gwent are diagnostic endoscopy - for tests such as flexible sigmoidoscopy, gastroscopy and colonoscopy - and radiology, specifically MRI and ultrasound scans.

Concern over the number of patients in Wales waiting more than eight weeks for flexible sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies has been raised by Bowel Cancer UK.

The charity pointed out that, based on the February figures, 60 per cent of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board patients waiting for a colonoscopy, and 59 per cent of those waiting for a flexible sigmoidoscopy, had waited more than eight weeks, the highest rates in Wales.

Earlier this year, the health board reported a “significant shortfall” in endoscopy capacity. Locum staff have been employed, but equipment failures at the Royal Gwent Hospital have exacerbated the problem.

The health board is looking at options such as using a mobile endoscopy unit, and outsourcing test work, to tackle the backlog.

Backlogs remain in MRI and ultrasound scanning (non-obstetric) too, though notable progress has been made since late 2016 in reducing the numbers waiting longer than eight weeks.

Use of mobile MRI scanners has helped reduce the numbers of patients waiting for this procedure, and long waits for non-obstetric ultrasound have also been falling since the turn of the year, as more staff have been employed and trained to carry out the procedure.