Hundreds face delay in cancer treatment

MORE than 600 patients have waited too long for cancer treatment in just one three-month period.

Only 83 per cent started their treatment within the Scottish Government’s target period of 62 days from their urgent referral.

The worrying statistic emerges in ISD Scotland figures for July to September this year.

The target states that 95 per cent of eligible patients will wait a maximum of 62 days from urgent referral to their first cancer treatment. But 654 patients missed that goal.

Lorraine Sloan, primary and community care programme manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said Scotland did not have enough staff to cope. She added: ‘Waiting for a cancer diagnosis, or for treatment to begin, is extremely stressful. We know staff are working very hard to give cancer patients the care and support they need but there just aren’t enough of them to meet the ever-growing demand.’

Scottish Labour health spokesman Monica Lennon said Health Secretary Jeane Freeman must set out plans to increase capacity in cancer detection and treatment, adding that it was ‘crucial to chances of survival’.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘It is essential cancer sufferers receive speedy treatment as any delay can reduce the chances of a good outcome. SNP ministers are failing to improve cancer services – that is unacceptable.

‘These waiting times simply highlight the SNP’s failure to ensure enough capacity or doctors and nurses in our health system. The SNP has been in sole charge of the health service for 12 years and continues to fail cancer patients.’

Miss Freeman said the NHS was treating more patients within its target period than during the same three months last year.

She added: ‘However, we’re determined to go further as there are some people who are having to wait too long for treatment.

‘Once a decision to treat has been reached, cancer patients in Scotland wait, on average, five days for it to begin.

‘Almost £20million has been made available to support improvements in cancer and diagnostic performance this year – including actions focused on improving performance in both colorectal and urological cancer.’

‘Not enough staff to meet demand’