Diagnostic waiting times in the NHS in England

Using data from the Department of Health website, these charts show that the standard diagnostic waiting time for the NHS in England has fallen since January 2006 despite an increase in the number of tests/procedures carried out.

In preparation for the 18 Week Referral to Treatment Standard becoming the operational standard in the NHS from 1st January 2009, the Department of Health set milestones for maximum diagnostic waiting times.  These milestones included a maximum wait of 26 weeks for MRI and CT scans by March 2006, and 13 weeks for all diagnostic tests by March 2007, coming down to six weeks by March 2008. This is reflected in the charts where a substantial fall in waiting times is observed in the months leading up to March 2007, and again up to March 2008, after which the waiting times remain at a much lower rate than in January 2006.