Can there be any more worrying and stressful time that between being told you could have cancer and getting the test that will provide the answer.

Thousands of families every year go through it. Life is on hold as days feel like weeks and weeks like months.

The standard time is six weeks, which is still too long. That’s 42 long days and nights wondering what the future holds.

But for thousands of people in Greater Glasgow alone that wait is even longer. In March this year there were more than 28,000 on the list for a cancer diagnosis test.

More than 6000 of them had to wait more than six weeks.

One year ago it was just under 2500 who were waiting more than six weeks.

The number of people waiting for a test has also increased significantly but the numbers waiting for a longer period has increased at an even faster rate.

The First Minister was asked by Labour leader, Richard Leonard, about the waiting times in Holyrood this week and she admitted there were challenges.

But in the political theatre of being criticised Nicola Sturgeon then went on to say that waiting times in other areas were improving. It drew approving noises and desk banging from backbench MSPs. They may be improving but many are still shockingly high.

Money is being invested we are told, but health boards, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde are having their budgets cut every year.

Glasgow’s health board last year said it cannot deliver the services required on the money it gets from the Scottish Government and would spend £20m more than it gets.

The health board obviously does not have enough money, resources or staff to cope with the increase in demand for cancer diagnosis tests.

The situation has undoubtedly arisen as a result of year after year of budget cuts. which are affecting services.

Politicians can shout all they like until the cows come home about protecting budgets and bandy around phrases like cash terms and real terms spending.

In hospitals around the country, in health centres and GP surgeries those working in the health service will tell you they are under pressure like never before.

In waiting rooms and hospital wards patients and their families will tell you that the staff are working flat out, doing their best and still managing to deliver excellent care.

The problem is that people are waiting far too long to access that care. Whether they are sitting in an A&E department or anxiously waiting for a cancer test they are experiencing anxiety and agony.

When we get statistical reports that tell us how many thousands have been waiting above the target time for a cancer test they are real people.

In Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area that means 6139 people in March.

More than 6000 real people with names and with families for whom every day is among the most difficult they have had to cope with.

Real people wondering how long they could have to live

And they don’t care who is perceived to have won a five minute argument between Nicola Sturgeon and Richard Leonard.

They have more important things on their mind.