Criticism Over Cancer Waiting Times

The Scottish government claims waiting times for cancer patients have improved.

It says fresh investment and a dedicated support team saw 96.3 percent of patients begin treatment within 31 days - the median wait was 7 days.

In the same period between April and June this year, 92.9 percent of suspected cancer case began treatment within 62 days - an improvement on 91.5 per cent in the previous quarter.

But nine of 32 health boards missed the target of 95 percent, while standards for eight out of 10 cancer types weren't met.

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: 95 percent of patients must start cancer treatment within 62 days from first referral on suspicion of cancer and within 31 days from a decision to treat.

He said: “We immediately recognised earlier this year that performance in some health boards was not where is should be and implemented a support team to help boards ensure no patient waited unnecessarily for treatment.

“Since March this team have been closely monitoring health boards’ performance and immediately acting where problems are identified. They have visited health boards and supported them to make the changes needed to reduce waiting times, as well as facilitating a sharing of best practice among the country’s health boards.

“This decisive action, coupled with a £2.5 million investment in June to build diagnostic and treatment capacity, is now starting to show real improvements in waiting times. This quarter’s figures indicate we are moving in the right direction towards meeting the 62 day standard in the majority of boards.

“However there is clearly still more work to be done and with an increasing number of people being diagnosed with cancer putting pressure on our services, we will continue to support boards to help make further improvements.

“The quality of cancer care is something everyone cares deeply about and we understand how difficult it can be for a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer. This is why it’s imperative people get access to treatment as quickly as possible and no-one is left waiting unnecessarily.

“The Scottish Government will continue to do everything it can to make sure that all patients and their families get the support they need.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Jim Hume MSP said:

“These figures indicate that the SNP have let their priorities slide. There has only been incremental gains against this important cancer treatment time target. It remains that the target has not been met since December 2012. In some health boards, as few as 90 percent of patients are given their first treatment within 62 days of referral with suspicion of cancer. Every minute of every day matters to cancer sufferers and their families.

“The Health Secretary must provide assurances that any efforts from his government to reduce waiting times are adequately resourced to support health boards across Scotland.

“I remain concerned about the sizeable gulf in treatment times for different cancer types. NHS boards have failed to meet waiting time standards for eight out of 10 cancer types. We need to get a fuller understanding of why 97.8 percent of patients referred with suspicion of breast cancer were treated within the waiting time standard, compared to 85 percent for those referred with suspicion of urological cancers.”