Scottish cancer waiting times fail to meet standard

Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Scotland, Dr Sorcha Hume, said the waiting times faced by patients for cancer treatment were “completely unacceptable”.

“NHS staff are doing their best but they’re battling against underinvestment alongside rising cancer cases,” she said.

“If we’re to turn the tide on the anxiety faced by so many, we need to see adequate funding for staff and equipment.

“Innovative reform and rapid progress against Scotland’s cancer strategy is also essential.”

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the figures were shocking.

“Scotland is facing a ticking timebomb of cancer cases on the SNP’s watch,” he said.

“It is crucial that cancer treatment is started as quickly as possible, but the SNP have failed to meet their own cancer waiting time targets for over a decade.”

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s Health Spokesperson, said: “Receiving a cancer diagnosis is stressful enough, but this failure to meet both treatment standards yet again also means that precious time to beat cancer is slipping away.”

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, called for a new plan to be put in place to tackle cancer waiting times.

“Every Scot diagnosed with cancer should be able to access treatment quickly and effectively,” he said.

“Timely treatment for cancer is a matter of life and death – the stakes here could simply not be higher.”

Health secretary Neil Gray said the NHS remains under pressure.

“This is reflected in the fact that we’re treating more patients with cancer on time compared to the same quarter 10 years ago,” he said.

“It is disappointing to see that the 31-day standard was narrowly missed this quarter, but it is welcome to see that the median wait for the 62-day standard is 49 days to treatment.”

Mr Gray said the Scottish government was investing in ways to support cancer waiting times improvements, including reducing backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic and improving capacity by tackling systemic challenges like delayed discharge.