NEW figures have revealed that 2329 people in Dumfries and Galloway were stuck on a waiting list for NHS treatment as of 31 December 2024.
Of these, 432 were waiting more than six weeks for tests; and 89 waited more than 13 weeks.
The quarterly release by Public Health Scotland relates to the number of patients waiting for one of eight key diagnostic tests: upper endoscopy, lower endoscopy (excl. colonoscopy), colonoscopy, cystoscopy, CT scan, MRI scan, barium studies and non-obstetric ultrasound.
However, it also reveals that 81.8 per cent of people waited six weeks or less.
Commenting, Colin Smyth MSP said: “The number of people waiting for vital health tests continues to be a concern in Dumfries and Galloway.
“These long waits for essential diagnostics tests are causing misery and putting lives at risk.
“Health and care staff across Dumfries and Galloway are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible standard of care, but they simply cannot keep up as there just aren’t enough of them.
“Thousands of people are waiting weeks for basic healthcare and that really undermines the fundamental principles of our NHS.
“Services across the area are stretched to breaking point yet the Scottish Government continues to fail to come up with a proper plan to tackle this crisis.”
