The variety of sufferers ready months to be seen for musculoskeletal points has been branded “disgraceful”.
New figures present practically half of individuals in Dumfries and Galloway who have been seen within the first three months of the yr had waited greater than 4 weeks for his or her first outpatient appointment.
And practically 1 / 4 of them had waited greater than 16 weeks.
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson mentioned: “These figures are merely not adequate.
“Sufferers in NHS Dumfries and Galloway who're struggling with musculoskeletal situations will usually be struggling in fixed ache. They want reassurance that appointments will likely be supplied as shortly as doable.
“Whereas far too many are ready greater than a month to be seen, it's disgraceful the quantity who've waited six months to be seen.”
Musculoskeletal accidents are ones that have an effect on bones, muscle mass, ligaments, nerves or tendons leading to ache.
The Scottish Authorities goal is that at the least 90 per cent of sufferers obtain their first outpatient appointment inside 4 weeks of a referral.
Knowledge from Public Well being Scotland exhibits that within the first three months of the yr, 56,934 folks obtained a primary appointment however simply 54.4 per cent of these had waited lower than 4 weeks to be seen.
In Dumfries and Galloway, 2,044 sufferers have been seen however solely 51.1 per cent obtained their appointment inside 4 weeks of being referred.
And of the 48.9 per cent who waited greater than 4 weeks between January and March this yr, 24.34 per cent ended up ready greater than 16 weeks.
A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway mentioned: “All referrals by means of the area’s musculoskeletal pathway are prioritised on the idea of scientific want. Anybody requiring pressing help will likely be handled as a precedence and with affected person security the paramount concern.
“Pressures proceed to be skilled throughout the entire of the area’s well being and social care system, there are staffing vacancies throughout the musculoskeletal pathway and the affect of the pandemic continues to be skilled.
“This leads to pressures throughout the musculoskeletal pathway – which means some sufferers ready longer to be seen than can be desired.
“Nevertheless, work has been happening to develop and implement enhancements and new methods of working in order to make sure the musculoskeletal pathway is being employed as effectively and successfully as doable.
“Recommendation and steering continues to be promoted on the administration of basic musculoskeletal points.”