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Diagnostic Waiting Times

This dataset reports key statistics on diagnostic waiting times as a monthly summary of patients waiting times for eight key diagnostic tests and investigations.

Further information on diagnostic waiting times across Scotland can be found in the publication summary. All publications and supporting material to this topic area can be found on the ISD Scotland Website. A selection of information from this publication is included in NHS Performs.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Source Aggregate counts accredited and derived from individual NHSScotland Boards are submitted monthly to PHS using a defined Excel template.
Author Waiting Times Team
Version 1.0
Last Updated December 8, 2023, 13:15 (GMT)
Created July 4, 2019, 09:22 (BST)
Contact Address Public Health Scotland, Gyle Square, 1 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9EB
Subject Access and Waiting Times
Frequency Quarterly
Time frame of data and timeliness Deadline for data submission is the 22nd of each month, though files can be resubmitted up to one week before publication where the quality assurance process identifies differences with local figures.
Coverage Data covers all health boards in Scotland since 2007.
Completeness 100% of submitted data is used for analysis and publication.
Accuracy PHS only receives aggregate data from each NHS Board where the data for the previous quarter is confirmed by the submitting Board. Although aggregated data cannot be systematically validated by PHS, PHS does carry out quality assurance checks on the data submitted. Reported data are compared to previous figures and to expected trends. Derivation of the figures and data accuracy is a matter for individual NHS Boards.
Continuity of data From January 2010 Golden Jubilee National Hospital data is included in the Scotland total.
Concepts and definitions A Data Submission Guidance document is available in printed and electronic form. These have been provided to all NHS Boards' key DMMI contacts. This information is now published and available to view at http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Diagnostics/
Disclosure The PHS protocol on Statistical Disclosure Protocol is followed.
Revision statement Historic data is not normally revised unless revision of data is required due to NHS Board re-submission of revised local data following publication. Statistical qualifiers are used to mark revised data when re-submissions have occurred. This publication has been revised due to an error identified with the raw data extract used to populate the Diagnostic Waiting Times report for quarter ending 30 September 2023. The changes to the Diagnostic Waiting Times report are outlined in a Revisions Statement. Please note that the accompanying publication tables and open data were also revised. This issue affects only NHSScotland and NHS Lothian figures in July and August 2023.
Official statistics designation National Statistics
Relevance and key uses of the statistics Waiting times are important to patients and are a measure of how the NHS is responding to demands for services. Measuring and regular reporting of waiting times highlights where there are delays in the system and enables monitoring of the effectiveness of NHS performance throughout the country. The NHS in Scotland has been set a number of targets for maximum waiting times.
Format CSV
Language English
Links

NHS England Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity. The published statistics are not comparable due to definitional differences.
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