A WARRINGTON MP has expressed concerns about patient care after it was revealed that NHS waiting times have increased.

Information released by the Department of Health showed waiting times for tests such as x-rays and ultrasound scans have risen dramatically since last year.

The number of patients waiting six weeks or longer for such tests in August was 11,119 compared to 5,795 in August 2010, a 92 per cent increase.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones said: “I am very concerned about this latest bad news for NHS patients.

“Early diagnostic tests are a huge part of why the NHS saw huge improvements in survival rates from conditions such as cancer and heart disease over the past 13 years.

“The figures show that the number of patients suffering from long waiting times for tests for cancer and other serious conditions is continuing to rise under David Cameron.

“The British Medical Association has said that longer waiting times cause stress for patients and that can have knock-on effects.

“They have also made it clear that the Tory-led Government’s demands for £20 billion of savings across the NHS are stretching services.

“NHS doctors and nurses are working tirelessly to cope with the cuts that are being made by the Tories and to protect patients.”