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

• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for radiology after being referred by a GP fell over the month from 613 to 369.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for radiology after being referred by a consultant fell over the month from 1,341 to 1,180.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for a stress test (cardiophysiology) fell over the month from 13 to 6.
• The number of people waiting more than 24 weeks for an echo cardiogram (cardiophysiology) fell over the month from 1,165 to 784.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for adult hearing aids (audiology)* rose over the month from 232 to 256.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for dietetics rose over the month from 22 to 30.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for physiotherapy fell over the month from 513 to 377.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for occupational therapy rose over the month from 340 to 346.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for speech language therapy fell over the month from 953 to 697.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for arts therapies fell over the month from 4 to 0.
• The number of people waiting more than 36 weeks for podiatry fell over the month from 971 to 732.

* First issue of hearing aids only. Does not include waiting lists for digital upgrades or the second issue of a hearing aid.

All figures relating to 31 October 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