Some patients are having to wait 14 months for an appointment, more than double the 26-week target set out by the Scottish Executive.

One outpatient, who did not wish to be named, was referred to the Dermatology clinic following an appointment with her doctor in January 2003 and has only just been told when she can expect an appointment

She has now been informed that the appointment should take place in March or April this year, which will mean that she will have waited for well over a year. The woman’s husband said, “My wife went to see the doctor this time last year and by the time she does get to see a specialist it will have been a fourteen month wait, despite the fact she was immediately referred.

“She has not seen anyone else about her condition in all that time because her doctor said he couldn’t do any more for her.

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said waiting times were too high at the moment but that the problem was not restricted to Tayside and a solution was being sought at national level.

She said, “In Tayside all referrals are prioritised as urgent, soon or routine.

“In dermatology, urgent cases are given an appointment within two weeks, soon cases within six to eight weeks but, unfortunately, routine cases can wait up to 14 months.”