Official statistics published today show that at the end of September this year 124 patients had waited more than nine weeks for key diagnostic tests, compared to more than 10,000 in July last year.  

Sturgeon said: "Waiting for a diagnostic test can be one of the most worrying times for a patient.  It is vital that the NHS does all it can to speed up this process and reduce the anxiety for patients and their families. 

"In summer 2006, more than 10,000 patients had to wait more than nine weeks for diagnostic tests across eight key testing areas. 

"Great progress has been made since then, and today's figures for the end of September show a massive reduction to only 124 patients waiting more than nine weeks, which will become the national waiting time standard from the end of this year.  This means that NHS Scotland has effectively delivered on its nine week target ahead of the end-December deadline date.” 

The statistics also showed that Hidden Waiting Lists (Availability Status Codes), which are to be abolished by December 31, have fallen by 33 per cent in the last quarter to 16,745. Furthermore, of those patients attending A&E during September, 97 per cent spent less than four hours between arrival and admission, transfer or discharge. 

Sturgeon said the figures showed that “very positive progress” had been made on patient waiting times ahead of the December targets. 

She continued: "Today's figures show that Boards continue to make excellent progress in reducing the number of patients on hidden waiting lists, hitting an all-time low of 16,745 patients at the end of September, a reduction of more than half in what the total was a year earlier, and a drop of a 33 per cent on the last quarter. 

"From January, the NHS will introduce important changes in the way waiting times will be measured which will be more transparent, consistent and fair, and will ensure that patients previously excluded are covered by national waiting time targets." 

On the general inpatient/day case treatment and outpatient waiting lists, Sturgeon said that progress was good, and that isolated issues were being dealt with as a matter of urgency.   

She said: "The number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for an outpatient appointment is down 25 per cent on the 2006 equivalent, and I am confident that Boards will deliver on the 18-week maximum wait target which will come into force at the end of this year."

However, Mary Scanlon MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, said that while she welcomed the fact that many patients are being treated faster, she remains concerned that the SNP are “putting politics before the needs of patients.”

She said: “We welcome the fact that many patients are being treated faster but remain concerned at the NHS priorities being based on political targets rather than the clinical need of patients. The last three months show the number of people waiting over 18 weeks has risen by 9 per cent.

“The end result of NHS resource allocation based on current political targets is that patients waiting for drug and alcohol treatment, infertility treatments and mental health support are left to languish on even longer waiting lists. This is particularly an issue for couples waiting for fertility treatment where there is an age bar.”

She went on to say that if Scotland’s patients are to get waiting times on par with our European neighbours we must embrace all of the health facilities available, arguing that: “The SNP's refusal to form future partnerships with the independent health sector is nothing less than political ideology getting in the way of patient care.”

She added: “Nicola Sturgeon fails to understand the role of the independent sector. Rather than providing conflict and competition, the private sector sits alongside the NHS, providing more choice for patients and helping to reduce waiting times.

“When it comes to public services, we are seeing the true colours of the SNP – putting politics before the needs of patients.”

To view the statistics visit the ISD Scotland website.