270 wait year to be seen as outpatients

MORE than 270 people have been waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment through NHS Lothian.

Earlier this month, the Evening News revealed that 550 patients had been on lists for a year or longer as they waited for inpatient procedures.

Now new figures show that many waiting for outpatient operations are having to wait far longer than the 12-week target to be seen.

In total, 1705 have been on the outpatient list for more than six months from their referral date, while 272 were still waiting after a year.

Among the departments worst hit were general surgery, urology and gastroenterology.

Yesterday, the News revealed that private sector surgeons were to be drafted in to see outpatients in NHS Lothian facilities in a bid to get the spiralling waiting list under control.