The NHS has revealed 9,000 more patients in England had waited more than six weeks for key diagnostic tests compared to the same time last year.
Although the results show 12,521 people had not been seen within the Department of Health time limits (compared to 3,510 in 2010), this was a reduction of 3,408 from May.
That figure of 15,929 was the largest since February 2008 and marked a peak in the rising waiting list trend that begin immediately following the general election last year.
However, while the six-week waiting list dropped, the total number of patients waiting for diagnosis rose to 595,500, its highest level since August 2007.
Of the patients waiting at the end of June, 97.9% had been waiting under six weeks, compared to 97.3% in May 2011, and 99.3% in June 2010.
Many private medical insurance providers are now including specific diagnosis options in products to address client concerns over this problem and future NHS funding cuts.
