HC Deb 05 May 2004 vol 420 c1631W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to record and publish waiting times for both diagnostics and treatment for all types of conditions. [169714]

Mr. Hutton

Data are not collected specifically on waiting times for diagnostic tests. However, depending on the setting in which the procedure takes place, patients waiting for diagnostic procedures may be included within the central waiting list returns.

This is because waiting time data are collected on the consultant's main specialty, not by procedure. Diagnostic procedures may be included as part of the official returns as either an in-patient/day case, or as an out-patient—if it was the patient's first appointment with a consultant.