NHS Wales Diagnostic & Therapy Services Waiting Times: At End June 2006

Numbers waiting for Diagnostic and Therapy Services have been published monthly since February 2006. Initially the focus is on outpatient and community patients referred to:

• Radiology
• Occupational Therapy
• Cardiophysiology
• Physiotherapy
• Adult Hearing Aids
• Podiatry
• Art Therapies
• Speech & Language Therapy
• Dietetics

Waiting list targets for 2006/07 include, by the end of March 2007 the maximum wait for access to specified diagnostic or therapy services should be 36 weeks, and a maximum wait of 24 weeks for an echo cardiogram (cardiophysiology).

At the end of June 2006:

• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for radiology after being referred by a GP fell over the month from 854 to 849.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for radiology after being referred by a consultant rose over the month from 1,801 to 1,818.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for a stress test (cardiophysiology) rose over the month from 8 to 11.
• The number of people waiting more than 24 weeks for an echo cardiogram (cardiophysiology) fell over the month from 1,197 to 1,134.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for adult hearing aids (audiology)(1) fell over the month from 330 to 266.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for dietetics fell over the month from 59 to 43.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for physiotherapy fell over the month from 1,754 to 1,652.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for occupational therapy fell over the month from 506(r) to 476.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for speech language therapy fell over the month from 2,132 to 2,047.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for art therapy remained at 1.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for podiatry fell over the month from 3,201 to 2,897.

(1) First issue of hearing aids only.  Does not include waiting lists for digital upgrades or the second issue of a hearing aid.
(r) Revised

All figures relating to 30 June 2006 are provisional.

Further information can be found on the StatsWales website.

Contact

Tel: 029 2080 1268
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk