"Unacceptable waiting times"

I was referred for an abdominal ultrasound by my GP in February. I got a phone call asking me to attend the appointment at the Golden Jubilee hospital two weeks ago. Whilst my experience there was largely positive, it was dampened by the 7 hour round trip and the eight month wait for a routine fifteen minute appointment. I had to take the whole day off work, as did my partner as I don’t drive. My question is, how are the waiting times so long that that was my only option?

In addition, I didn’t receive any information regarding claiming my travel expenses and I only got this information after a google search and emailing the waiting times team.