More than 20,000 patients in Forth Valley are currently on hospital lists awaiting treatment, according to new figures.
The data released by Public Health Scotland reveals the numbers waiting on both outpatient appointments and inpatient or day care admissions.
In the final quarter up to the end of last year, a total of 16,980 people were still waiting on outpatient care in the region - with just under half of these (8,024) having waited more than 12 weeks.
