Cancer treatment waiting time targets missed
Nearly a third of cancer patients in Scotland waited longer than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent referral, data shows.
Cancer treatment waiting times are judged against two standards; that 95% of patients should begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, and the same proportion wait no longer than 31 days from the decision to treat.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) figures show only one out of 14 health boards in Scotland met the target of 62 days – NHS Lanarkshire, which achieved 95.4%.
The 31-day standard was met by 11 health boards out of 15, with NHS Golden Jubilee included in this measure.
PHS said: “Many boards have highlighted that staffing issues combined with a high number of referrals continue to limit capacity and impact on performance in the latest quarter.
The figures show that during the last quarter from July to September 2024, around 1,200 (27.9%) patients waited longer than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent suspected cancer referral.
Meanwhile 72.1% of patients on an urgent referral started treatment within 62 days over the quarter – below the 95% target.
This was down from 73.2% in the previous quarter, and 83.7% in the quarter ending December 31, 2019.
Some 94.3% of patients started treatment within 31 days, compared with 95.5% in the previous quarter and 96.5% in the quarter ending December 31, 2019.
“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.
“Nevertheless, I recognise that we must do more to ensure cancer patients are treated faster. To help tackle waiting times, we have allocated £11.3 million in 2024/25 with a focus on the three most challenging tumour types – urology, colorectal and breast.
“In addition to this, an initial investment of £30 million has been provided to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic.
“If approved by Parliament, the 2025/26 Budget will also deliver record health and social care funding of £21 billion to ensure faster, more accessible care by improving capacity and tackling systemic challenges like delayed discharge.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Every Scot diagnosed with cancer should be able to access treatment quickly and effectively. It is emblematic of how SNP mismanagement has run our NHS into the ground that so many people are being forced to endure long waits to get the help they need.
“Timely treatment for cancer is a matter of life and death – the stakes here could simply not be higher.
“The Health Secretary needs to bring a new plan to the table and pull out all the stops to bring down waiting times. Staff and patients are tired of being continually failed by a Government that is devoid of the energy and creativity we need to turn this around.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said “Scotland is facing a ticking timebomb of cancer cases on the SNP’s watch”.
He added: “SNP ministers have failed to prioritise cutting cancer waiting times for far too long and lives are continuing to be put at risk.”
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, called on the Scottish Government to “urgently reduce waiting times so that anyone who receives a suspected cancer referral is quickly seen and treated”.
Cancer Research UK’s Dr Sorcha Hume said: “Prolonged waits for cancer treatment are completely unacceptable but time and time again these targets are missed.
“NHS staff are doing their best but they’re battling against under-investment alongside rising cancer cases.
“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.”