No-one waited more than two years for an operation in 1999

The Scottish National Party said it had obtained statistics suggesting 50 people waited more than two years last year, compared to none in 1999.

But Health Minister Andy Kerr insisted waiting times were improving.

He said the SNP figures showed patients treated in the past, not those now on waiting lists.

The SNP claims that the number of people waiting for more than 18 months rose from one to 124, over the period 1999 to 2004.

The figures include those who are on so-called "hidden" waiting lists, which ministers have pledged to abolish.

Medical issues

Under Scottish Executive guarantees, no-one should have to wait more than nine months for a hip operation.

However, patients with "availability status codes" are not included in these targets.

They include people who fail to show up for treatment and those who cannot be treated because of medical issues.

We have to treat people who have waited too long. That's success Andy Kerr Health Minister

SNP figures suggested the number of people being given such codes was on the rise.

The executive has promised that health boards will have phased them out by 2007.

Mr Kerr said: "These figures don't show patients waiting to be treated, they show patients who were treated in the past.

"In the process of driving down waiting times, it's simply basic arithmetic that we have to treat people who have waited too long. That's success."

The minister dismissed the SNP's inclusion of availability status code patients and insisted waiting times were coming down dramatically.

He added: "Latest figures show, no patients with guarantees are waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment.

"In addition, bucking the usual seasonal trend, the number waiting over six months has also fallen - down by almost 30% in the quarter and over 80% over the year."