Scottish Health Secretary announces £10m fund to tackle cancer waiting times during Fife visit

The Scottish Government's Health Secretary has announced a £10 million fund to deal with cancer waiting times while on a visit to Fife.

Humza Yousaf MSP went to see one of Scotland's first Early Cancer Diagnostic Centres at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

He said the centre in the Kingdom, which has been open for around a month, is already having an impact, with cancer already detected in three people.

Such centres will mean patients with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer will be seen and getting a diagnosis, whether it's cancer or not, within 21 days of referral.

The same kind of facilities have already been established in other Scottish health board areas like Ayrshire and Arran and Dumfries and Galloway.

Scotland's health boards can spend the money on diagnostic tests, improving staff skills and supporting evening and weekend working so more patients can be seen.

Cash will be divided among the 14 health boards north of the border to improve cancer services where it's needed most.

Mr Yousaf said: "Limiting the impact of coronavirus on cancer patients has been a top priority in all of our planning, with the majority of vital cancer treatments continuing throughout the pandemic.

"Our commitment to finding and treating cancer as early as possible has never been greater.

"The establishment of Scotland’s first three Early Cancer Diagnostic Centres demonstrates this.

"We had pledged to open three centres within the first 100 days of this government, so I’m delighted to say we’ve delivered on that commitment.

"This £10 million will enable boards to further recover and redesign cancer services for patients across Scotland and drive improvements in waiting times."