Record number of people waiting for NHS diagnostic tests in England
A record 1.92 million patients in England are currently waiting for diagnostic tests, with one in five waiting longer than the six-week target. The backlog has grown significantly since the pandemic, raising concerns about delayed cancer and heart disease diagnoses.
Why it matters
Highlights a critical strain on the UK's public healthcare system and the potential for worsening patient outcomes due to systemic delays.
Demand for tests such as MRI scans is outstripping the NHS’s ability to meet it. Photograph: skynesher/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Demand for tests such as MRI scans is outstripping the NHS’s ability to meet it. Photograph: skynesher/Getty Images NHS Record number of people waiting for NHS diagnostic tests in England One in five of the 1.92m patients on list wait longer than six weeks for tests such as CT and MRI scans, analysis shows
Reports on statistical data regarding NHS performance without overt political bias.
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