PATIENTS requiring cancer check colonoscopies following positive bowel screening tests have to wait longer in the Borders than any other part of Scotland.

The region was recently highlighted as leading the way with uptake of the Government's two-yearly checks for over 50s.

Across Scotland more than half of all people who provide positive results go from screening to colonoscopy within four weeks.

But only one-in-five people are given a colonoscopy within the four-week target at NHS Borders, according to the latest figures.

And more than 21 percent of people have to wait more than eight weeks for an appointment at Borders General Hospital.

Everyone between the ages of 50 and 74 are sent home screening tests every two years.

Out every 500 people who take the test and average of only 10 will need to go for further investigation.

But the wait to find out if bleeding is caused by cancer can be traumatic.

NHS Borders has introduced additional screening to cut the waiting times.

A spokeswoman told us: “In April 2018 a number of patients waited between four and eight weeks for a colonoscopy.

"Since then we have made service improvements such as running additional weekend colonoscopy clinics and introducing the new QFIT test which helps us to determine those people most likely to need a colonoscopy and ensure they are seen as a priority.

"These measures have had a positive impact on reducing waiting times so that 95 percent of patients referred for colonoscopy are currently seen within 31 days.”