Key cancer waiting times being missed in Tayside and Fife

Figures: Charities brand the findings over targets as ‘unacceptable’

Key waiting time targets to treat people sent to cancer specialists are being missed in Tayside and Fife.

Cancer charities branded the findings “unacceptable”, as the Scottish Government came under pressure on the issue.

New figures show that between April and June, 89.7% of people who were urgently referred began treatment within 62 days – less than the Scottish Government’s target of 95% and down slightly from 90.2% in the first three months of 2016.

In Tayside, that figure was marginally better than the national average at 90.4%, while Fife was almost exactly the same at 89.8%.

One NHS Tayside patient had to wait 109 days for a so-called urgent referral.

Just two of Scotland’s 14 regional health boards met the target, with NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire treating 97.2% and 95.4% of patients in time.

ANAS SARWAR

Of the 10 types of cancer, breast cancer was the only form of the disease for which the target was met, with 96.4% of patients treated within two months of referral. In comparison, 77.2% of those referred for urological cancers – such as bladder, kidney, prostate and testicular cancer – began their treatment in time.

Gregor McNie, Cancer Research UK’s senior public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “At a time when cancer is Scotland’s most common cause of death, it’s unacceptable that this target hasn’t been met.”

Trisha Hatt, Macmillan Cancer Support’s strategic partnership manager, said it is “deeply disappointed that the cancer waiting times have been missed yet again”.

Scottish Labour’s health spokesman, Anas Sarwar, said: “These numbers should act as a wake-up call to an SNP government that has become complacent on cancer.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “I want health boards to work even harder to improve early access to diagnostics so that patients can get a decision on whether they need treatment or not as quickly as possible.”

“This is where we are focusing our efforts – with an additional £2 million invested this August to support immediate improvements in diagnostic and treatment capacity.”

These numbers should act as a wake-up call to an SNP government that has become complacent on cancer.

Health Minister Shona Robison wants health boards to work harder.