Thousands of patients are waiting longer than 12 weeks for NHS treatment in Scotland - even though it is their legal right.
New figures show health boards are still unable to deliver the Scottish Government's legally binding waiting times guarantee and they are missing other waiting list targets.
Goals which health boards have delivered in the past - such as ensuring 90% of those referred to hospital are seen within three months - are no longer being achieved.
Across Scotland between April and the end of June 94% of patients were treated in line with the law - which promises everyone the procedure or therapy they need within 12 weeks of that remedy being agreed. More than 4000 people waited longer for treatment.
Scottish Labour public services spokesperson Dr Richard Simpson said: “The SNP made a promise to patients in Scotland, and gave them a legal right to be seen within 12 weeks. This week we see that law has been broken over 4,000 times in the last few months. It is simply astonishing.
“They set our NHS targets for patients to be seen within certain timeframes, but have not given our NHS the support to meet these targets. They have to take the responsibility for the decisions they have made.”
Jim Hume, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman, described the figures as "damning".
He said: “It is clear that the demands placed by SNP ministers on health boards do not match the resources they have made available to health boards."
The Scottish Government said 875,000 patients had been treated within the legal time limit since it became law in 2012. Plans are in place to improve treatment times in the health boards which are furthest behind, NHS Grampian, Lothian, Highland and Tayside.
Shona Robison, Scottish Health Secretary, said: “With an ageing population the NHS in Scotland is facing different challenges to a decade ago and it is vital that we support health boards as they continue to adapt to meet these new demands.
“We are also taking a series of actions to boost performance, cut waiting times and deliver on the commitments made. For example, we are investing in targeted support where it is needed most. This includes funding of £1.5m to the Golden Jubilee (hospital) which will enable the hospital to deliver an extra 1500 operations as well as recruit additional clinical staff and allow for weekend surgeries.
“This will help free up capacity at other health boards and mean that patients from across Scotland get faster treatment."
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