Missing cancer treatment times ‘unacceptable’ say campaigners

Cancer charities have said it is unacceptable that a key waiting time target for treatment has not been met.

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

Just two of Scotland’s 14 regional health boards met the target, with NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire treating 97.2 per cent and 95.4 per cent of patients within 62 days.

Of the ten types of cancer, breast cancer was the only form of the disease for which the target was met, with 96.4 per cent of patients treated within two months of referral.

In comparison, 77.2 per cent of those referred for urological cancers – such as bladder, kidney, prostate and testicular cancer – began their treatment within this time.

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.”

But 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.

“Patients must be diagnosed and treated swiftly if they are to have the best chance of survival. Early diagnosis is a priority in Scotland’s new cancer strategy, but we want fast progress to ensure patients are not left waiting too long.”

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

Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “These numbers should act as a wakeup call to an SNP government that has become complacent on cancer.”

“Patients must be diagnosed and treated swiftly if they are to have the best chance of survival” GREGOR MCNIE Cancer Research UK