Fury as the number of people waiting more than six weeks for NHS diagnostic checks – which can detect and diagnose cancer – soars 23-fold in less than a decade

The number of patients waiting more than six weeks for NHS diagnostic checks has soared 23-fold in less than a decade to 364,000, a study reveals.

The tests and scans are used to detect, diagnose and predict the likelihood of many diseases, including cancer.

Patient groups last night described the figures as ‘alarming’ and warned that people are being ‘left in limbo’, unable to start the treatment they need.

Delays can prevent doctors from prescribing drugs or performing surgery, during which time conditions can worsen and potentially become incurable.

The overall NHS waiting list for diagnostic checks, including MRI and CT scans, currently stands at a record 1.6million, NHS England figures show, almost double the number waiting in July 2015.

Of these, 22 per cent – 364,544 – have been waiting over six weeks.

The number of six-week waiters is up 23 times – from 15,706 – since 2015, according to House of Commons Library research.

The findings come as Sir Keir Starmer promised that 92 per cent of patients would wait no longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment by 2029.

But the Liberal Democrats, who commissioned the study, warned that the Prime Minister’s pledge will be ‘meaningless’ if people cannot get a timely diagnosis.

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats’ health and social care spokesman, said: ‘The Prime Minister’s milestone on treatment times risks being meaningless if people can’t even get the scans they need.’

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, described the figures as ‘alarming’ and added: ‘These are not just figures, they represent millions of people left in limbo, unable to start treatment or even get a diagnosis.’

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: ‘Catching cancer at an early stage saves lives, but people across the UK are waiting too long to access vital diagnostic tests.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘Our Plan for Change will get the NHS back on its feet and bring waiting lists under control.

‘The Budget provided the funding to deliver an extra 40,000operations, scans and appointments per week to ensure patients can expect to be treated within 18 weeks.

‘We are investing around £1.5billion capital funding for new surgical hubs, diagnostic scanners and beds across the NHS estate to create more treatment space in emergency departments, reduce waiting times and help shift more care into the community.’