GWENT’S already lengthy list of patients have waited beyond the maximum eight weeks for a diagnostic test, grew even longer during last autumn.

New figures show that by the end of November, 5,749 patients had waited longer than eight weeks for a range of tests including MRI and ultrasound scans, CT scans, and endoscopies.

That is more than double the number (2,814) in June, with the increase during October 31-November 30 being the fifth successive monthly increase.

Gwent’s Aneurin Bevan University Health Board accounts for more than half of all Wales’ diagnostic test waits of longer than the target eight weeks.

And overall in Wales, more than 10,000 patients had been waiting longer than the maximum eight weeks by November 30.

Within the overall figures for November, there are some eye-catching disparities.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (UHB), which includes the Swansea area, had only 280 patients over the eight-week target, while Betsi Cadwaladr UHB recorded just 84.

Hywel Dda however, had no patients waiting beyond eight weeks.

Aneurin Bevan UHB’s 5,749 patients waiting beyond eight weeks was more than double the next highest figure, Cardiff & Vale UHB’s 2,652.

Despite efforts to reduce the burden of long diagnostic test waits, particularly during last spring, there were 41 per cent more patients waiting longer than eight weeks in Gwent at the end of November last year, compared to 12 months previously.

Gwent had more patients on waiting lists for diagnostic tests, with 16,970, than any other area in Wales.

The area’s hospitals have continued to face a range of capacity problems, allied to increasing demand.

Reduced consultant numbers and equipment failures in the autumn at the Royal Gwent Hospital caused delays with endoscopies, where the impact by November was seen in increasing numbers of patients waiting beyond 14 weeks - well over the eight-week threshold - for tests to be carried out.

More than 1,600 patients were in this category by the end of November, the highest figure since the health board was formed seven years ago.

A mobile MRI scanner has been drafted in to help deal with scan backlogs, and new ultrasound staff, along with the use of locums will, it is hoped, bring down the numbers of patients waiting longer than eight weeks - but this is likely to take some time.

The figures also show that by the end of November, close to 600 patients in Gwent had been waiting longer than the maximum 14 weeks for the beginning of therapies.

The vast majority of these were in the 14-24 weeks category, and comprised the second highest amount in Wales, behind Hywel Dda UHB (1,359).