The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health: Diagnostics waiting times & activity data: month ending January 2009 and quarterly census, period ending 31 December 2008.

This data shows the NHS' progress in tackling the waiting times for diagnostic tests like scans. The monthly data published today gives the waiting times for 15 key diagnostic tests carried out in the NHS. Also published is the latest quarterly census of all diagnostic tests, which picks up longer waits in areas outside the 15 monthly tests.

This data will help the NHS in delivering the 18 week maximum wait from GP to treatment, including all diagnostic tests, by end 2008. More information, including a diagnostic data Q&A, is available via the 18 week website.

Main findings this month

- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 6 weeks for one of the 15 key diagnostics tests at the end of January 2009 was 5,700, which is the same figure as December 2008, but a fall of 61,800 (91.6%) from January 2008.

- The number of patients, for whom English commissioners are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks for one of the 15 key diagnostics tests at the end of January 2009 was 1,000, a decrease of 100 (6.4%) from December 2008, and a fall of 15,900 (94.0%) from January 2008.

- Waits for audiology assessments make up the highest proportion of long waits. Between December 2008 and January 2009, over 6 week waits decreased by 100 (5.5%) to 1,400.

- The quarterly census of all tests, carried out at the end of December 2008, indicates there are an additional 6,300 over 6 week waiters and 1,700 over 13 week waiters in tests not captured in the 15 included in the monthly return. This is a decrease of around 1,200 over 6 week waits, and a fall of around 200 in the number of over 13 week waits, since the September 2008 census

For full diagnostic date click the link below.

Diagnostic data

Department of Health, UK