The UK Statistics Authority said the decision to exclude patients who have “not yet been treated” in waiting time figures “could potentially mislead some patients”.

It comes as waiting times in Scotland’s accident and emergency (A&E) departments recorded their worst ever monthly performance on record. Figures for September showed the four-hour waiting time target was missed for more than three out of ten patients.

A total of 5,296 patients spent 12 hours or more in A&E – about one in 25 patients (4.2 per cent).

Scottish Labour, who raised the ‘misleading’ issue with the watchdog, said it was time for ministers to “drop the spin and face the music”.

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