The number of people waiting for hospital treatment in Scotland has soared by more than 10%, according to the latest figures.

Statistics released by the Scottish Executive showed that the waiting list had risen to just under 80,000 in the three months to the end of June.

That figure has risen by almost 8,000 from the end of March - although it is down 3,543 from the end of June last year.

I am determined that this is addressed and that good progress will be made in the coming months

Malcolm Chisholm Health Minister

The figures do not include the 25,000 people who are on the controversial deferred list, which is set to be scrapped.

The number of patients having to wait more than nine months for treatment also increased, from 3,582 to 3,842.

However, no patient with a guarantee for treatment had to wait longer than a year.

The figures - which were calculated before the Scottish Executive bought the National Waiting Time Centre in Clydebank - have been met with disappointment by the health minister.

Malcolm Chisholm said tackling waiting would remain the top priority for NHS Scotland.

Waiting times

"The increase in the number of patients with a guarantee waiting over nine months for inpatient or day case treatment on 30 June 2002 is particularly disappointing," he said.

"I am determined that this is addressed and that good progress will be made in the coming months towards our target of ensuring no patient with a guarantee waits over nine months by the end of 2003 and no more than six months by 2005."

Mr Chisholm said it was recognised that there were particular problems around orthopaedics waiting times because of difficulties in matching demand and capacity.

The executive has failed to make any progress towards their new priority of reducing waiting times

Nicola Sturgeon SNP health spokeswoman

"This is a UK-wide problem. To address this, the National Waiting Times Unit has today brought together experts in this area from across Scotland," he added.

"They will examine how NHS Scotland capacity in this speciality can be maximised as well as the scope for securing additional capacity from the private sector."

Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon said the figures "paint a picture of Labour failure".

"To make matters even worse, the executive has failed to make any progress towards their new priority of reducing waiting times.

Nicola Sturgeon: "Labour failure"

"Median waiting times are static and the number of patients waiting more than nine months for treatment has increased by more than 3,000 since 1999.

"It is also strange that waiting lists fell last quarter when the executive had a target to meet and have now soared back to the previous levels. That would suggest that in the last quarter they were simply indulging in their old trick of fiddling the figures."

Dr John Garner, Chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, described the figures as "depressing".

He said: "The executive has said itself that more investment, increased capacity and improvements in the way in which care is delivered are essential for the reduction of waiting lists in Scotland.

"That is certainly true because the problem which lies behind these figures and results in delayed treatment for patients is a lack of staff and resources."

He also warned of the effect of adding thousands of patients on the deferred list to the queue.