Health: Screening

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for patients to receive the 15 key diagnostic tests in each year since the collection of these data began in 2006. (300335)

Average (median) waiting times for the patients waiting for the 15 key diagnostic tests are shown in the following table:

*Median waiting times for patients waiting for the 15 key diagnostic tests (weeks) March 2006 to September 2009*
Time period ending	Median waiting time for 15 diagnostic tests
March 2006	5.8
June 2006	5.4
September 2006	5.2
December 2006	5.5
March 2007	3.9
June 2007	3.4
September 2007	2.8
December 2007	3.0
March 2008	2.1
June 2008	1.7
September 2008	1.6
December 2008	2.2
March 2009	1.7
June 2009	1.7
September 2009	1.6
Note: Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. This should be taken into account when interpreting data. Source: Department of Health Diagnostic Waiting List Collection DM01

Volume 501: debated on Wednesday 25 November 2009