A TOTAL of 159 patients in Fife have been waiting for more than a year to be seen, according to the latest statistics.

The figures from Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland showed that across the country at the end of December, there were 39,001 people who had been on a hospital waiting list for a year or longer.

In September, the national figure had been 20,940 while at the end of June last year, it was 8,913.

According to Scottish Government targets, all new outpatients should be seen within 12 weeks of referral while, for inpatients and day cases, procedures should commence within 12 weeks.