Cancer waiting times now ‘worst since records began’
Targets missed for 9 out of 10 disease forms
HUNDREDS of cancer patients are facing ‘unacceptable’ delays for treatment after all but two of Scotland’s 14 health boards missed a key waiting time target.
Overall, only 89.7 per cent of people who were urgently referred between April and June began treatment within 62 days – falling far short of the Scottish Government’s target of 95 per cent.
Health chiefs have also disastrously missed the 62-day treatment target for nine out of ten common cancers, combining to produce the worst performance since records were first collated six years ago.
The 89.7 per cent headline figure is also down from 90.2 per cent for the previous three months, suggesting a worrying trend towards longer waiting times.
In one case, a patient with a type of urological cancer waited almost six months for a hospital appointment with NHS Lothian, although the health board stressed the symptoms were ‘low risk’.
The latest official report admits that hospital capacity – which can include a lack of staff and beds – is partly to blame, but experts warn long waiting times can mean the difference between life and death.
Cancer Research UK has said ideally all patients should start treatment within a month of diagnosis.
Its senior public affairs manager in Scotland, Gregor McNie, 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.’
Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said the numbers were a ‘wake-up call’ to an SNP Government that has become ‘complacent on cancer’. He said: ‘Only two out of Scotland’s 14 health boards have met the standards – it would simply be wrong for SNP ministers to try to spin their way out of this.
‘These figures don’t just represent some sort of inconvenience – the sooner people receive treatment, the better the outcomes.’
The latest data shows only NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire met the target, treating 97.2 per cent and 95.4 per cent respectively of cancer patients within 62 days.
Of the ten types of cancer, breast cancer was the only form 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 – began their treatment within this time.
Health Secretary Shona Robison insisted better early access to diagnostics remained a priority for the Scottish Government, pointing out that the average wait to start treatment stands at six days. She said: ‘We are continuing to implement our new £100million cancer strategy which will drive improvements in access to cancer care and invest in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and after-care for patients – as well as improving waiting times.’
But Trisha Hatt of Macmillan Cancer Support said the charity was ‘deeply disappointed that the cancer waiting times have been missed yet again’.
She said: ‘We know 75 per cent of Scots are diagnosed late. Being treated late as well all adds up to cause real problems getting appropriate care for cancer patients – particularly for those with immediate palliative care needs.’
The figures released yesterday by health service data body ISD Scotland also show NHS Scotland reached its goal for 95 per cent of patients to begin treatment within 31 days of a decision being made on how best to help them – up from 94.9 per cent the previous quarter to 95.7 per cent.
But two of the largest health boards – NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – missed this target, treating 94.6 per
‘Patients must be treated swiftly’ ‘Deeply disappointing’
cent and 94.3 per cent within 31 days respectively.
While this target was met for nine main types of the disease, only 87.3 per cent of those with urological cancers started treatment within a month of a decision being made.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde blamed ‘pressure on urology services’ and a ‘significant number of cancer patients’ with a ‘range of complex cases’.
It said it was working to improve performance by increasing diagnostic and treatment capacity. An NHS Lothian spokesman said: ‘In a small number of cases, patients wait longer that the 62day target and we apologise to any patients who have waited too long.’