The differences between the median wait and mean wait for in-patient/day case treatment and new out-patient appointments for the quarters ending: 30 June 1997,30 June 1999 and 30 September 2004, by NHS board of residence were asfollows: Difference in Median and Mean Wait (days) NHS Board (Residence) Quarter end In-patient/Day Case Waiting Time First Out-patient Appointment Waiting Time Median Wait Mean Wait Difference Median Wait Mean Wait Difference Scotland 30-Jun-97 34 59.7 -25.7 40 53.7 -13.7 30-Jun-99 30 53.5 -23.5 46 64.0 -18.0 30-Sep-04p 43 81.3 -38.3 55 89.8 -34.8 Argyll and Clyde 30-Jun-97 36 61.1 -25.1 39 59.0 -20.0 30-Jun-99 29 50.9 -21.9 42 58.5 -16.5 30-Sep-04p 45 76.2 -31.2 55 81.3 -26.3 Ayrshire and Arran 30-Jun-97 33 57.1 -24.1 35 44.4 -9.4 30-Jun-99 34 55.4 -21.4 37 48.4 -11.4 30-Sep-04p 52 86.1 -34.1 51 80.5 -29.5 Borders 30-Jun-97 28 46.7 -18.7 33 43.3 -10.3 30-Jun-99 27 43.4 -16.4 35 47.1 -12.1 30-Sep-04p 40 74.1 -34.1 41 74.2 -33.2 Dumfries and Galloway 30-Jun-97 33 60.2 -27.2 35 41.0 -6.0 30-Jun-99 31 49.9 -18.9 45 53.2 -8.2 30-Sep-04p 52 79.1 -27.1 49 79.8 -30.8 Fife 30-Jun-97 37 69.1 -32.1 48 58.8 -10.8 30-Jun-99 39 73.6 -34.6 54 73.4 -19.4 30-Sep-04p 45 90.1 -45.1 62 92.7 -30.7 Difference in Median and Mean Wait (days) NHS Board (Residence) Quarter end In-patient/Day Case Waiting Time First Out-patient Appointment Waiting Time Median Wait Mean Wait Difference Median Wait Mean Wait Difference Forth Valley 30-Jun-97 31 56.8 -25.8 42 52.0 -10.0 30-Jun-99 32 56.2 -24.2 54 68.9 -14.9 30-Sep-04p 50 90.2 -40.2 64 102.3 -38.3 Grampian 30-Jun-97 33 60.0 -27.0 35 50.4 -15.4 30-Jun-99 28 48.8 -20.8 49 67.1 -18.1 30-Sep-04p 38 77.6 -39.6 57 92.4 -35.4 Greater Glasgow 30-Jun-97 35 59.3 -24.3 46 59.2 -13.2 30-Jun-99 29 53.1 -24.1 48 65.7 -17.7 30-Sep-04p 34 75.0 -41.0 59 103.0 -44.0 Highland 30-Jun-97 30 52.0 -22.0 31 50.8 -19.8 30-Jun-99 28 49.7 -21.7 35 56.0 -21.0 30-Sep-04p 42 84.2 -42.2 43 79.5 -36.5 Lanarkshire 30-Jun-97 38 64.4 -26.4 44 57.4 -13.4 30-Jun-99 28 48.5 -20.5 50 70.4 -20.4 30-Sep-04p 54 90.7 -36.7 62 94.6 -32.6 Lothian 30-Jun-97 30 55.8 -25.8 38 53.7 -15.7 30-Jun-99 29 51.9 -22.9 46 69.3 -23.3 30-Sep-04p 42 84.4 -42.4 50 83.4 -33.4 Orkney 30-Jun-97 20 35.8 -15.8 22 31.3 -9.3 30-Jun-99 24 29.0 -5.0 29 33.8 -4.8 30-Sep-04p 25 45.1 -20.1 31 47.0 -16.0 Shetland 30-Jun-97 34 55.0 -21.0 32 37.7 -5.7 30-Jun-99 20 42.1 -22.1 30 34.4 -4.4 30-Sep-04p 34 62.9 -28.9 35 41.1 -6.1 Tayside 30-Jun-97 34 63.3 -29.3 37 47.0 -10.0 30-Jun-99 33 57.8 -24.8 44 58.9 -14.9 30-Sep-04p 47 77.2 -30.2 53 89.2 -36.2 Western Isles 30-Jun-97 30 50.0 -20.0 34 46.6 -12.6 30-Jun-99 26 41.3 -15.3 33 52.2 -19.2 30-Sep-04p 40 68.0 -28.0 39 55.7 -16.7 Sources: ISD, SMR00 & SMR01.PProvisional.The distributions of both out-patients and in-patients/day cases and out-patients are very skewed making the median the more appropriate measure.