338 out of 1,306 Borders patients waited more than 16 weeks for a physio or occupational therapy (musculoskeletal) services at NHS Borders.
This represents 26 per cent of all patients requiring these services, a percentage significantly higher than the Scotland-wide average of 11 per cent of patients who are waiting longer than 16 weeks for services.
The Scottish Government has determined that at least 90% of patients should wait no longer than 4 weeks from receipt of referral from a patient or health or social care professional. Only 57.3 per cent of musculoskeletal patients at NHS Borders are seen within 4 week target.
Musculoskeletal problems include a diversity of complaints and diseases localised in joints, bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, tendon sheaths, bursa and muscles. They also include outpatient pre- or post-orthopaedic surgery, peripheral nerve lesions (e.g. carpal tunnel, sciatica) or complication of fracture/dislocation/trauma.
Commenting on the figures, Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“These figures once again demonstrate that the SNP set targets and continue to miss them
“Patients waiting longer than 16 weeks are at risk of their condition worsening and that in turn then puts more strain on our NHS
“Many of these people will be in significant pain, and are being let down badly.
“These statistics won’t even include those whose pain is so great they can’t wait for the NHS, and are instead forced to go private.
“It’s a complete failure of government from the SNP that thousands of patients a month are waiting too long for physio and occupational therapy"