Continued delayed cancer treatment waits ‘unacceptable’, says Cancer Research

Continued delayed cancer treatment waits are “unacceptable” a cancer charity has said as latest figures show no NHS boards met the Scottish Government’s 62-day pledge last quarter.

The latest figures from Public Health Scotland show that from October to December 2025, 27.4% patients waited longer than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent suspected cancer referral.

The statistics show that 72.6% of patients on an urgent referral for a suspicion of cancer started treatment within 62 days during this quarter.

This is below the SNP’s pledged 95% target which has not been met since 2012.

Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said the latest figures were “unacceptable.”

She said: “It’s unacceptable that people are waiting too long to start cancer treatment. It’s crucial that cancer is diagnosed early when treatment is more likely to be successful.

“Tackling these delays must be a priority for the incoming government, so that people get the timely diagnosis and treatment they deserve.”

“NHS staff are working flat out to deliver services to patients and more needs to be done to support them.

“The solution lies in investing in the NHS workforce and cutting-edge equipment. It will also be essential to introduce innovations that will see more people diagnosed and treated sooner.”

The new figures are an improvement from 70.7% of patients being seen in the 62-day window in the previous quarter but a significant decrease from 83.7% in the quarter ending December 31 2019.

The 62-day standard was not met by any NHS Board.

Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of being “totally complacent”.

Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Dame Jackie Baillie said: “Quick treatment saves lives but this dangerously incompetent SNP Government hasn’t met its cancer treatment target for 13 years.

“Dedicated NHS staff are working tirelessly to give patients the care they need but they, too, are being let down by the SNP.

“John Swinney and the SNP should be ashamed of their record, but instead they are totally complacent.

“It is an insult to the Scots waiting too long for lifesaving cancer care for John Swinney to pretend his Government’s NHS plan is working.

“The truth is if the SNP was capable of improving things, they would have done it by now.

“After 13 years of failure on cancer care, it’s clear that a vote for John Swinney and the SNP is a vote for more of the same.

“We cannot afford a third decade of SNP failure – but on May 7 we have a chance to vote for change.

“Scottish Labour will fix the mess the SNP has made of our NHS and get Scots the urgent cancer care they deserve – improving screening, expanding rapid diagnostic services, delivering cutting edge tech and providing support for patients and families.

“Only one party can call time on SNP failure and deliver the change our NHS needs and that is Scottish Labour.”

The Scottish Conservatives were also critical of the figures as health spokesperson Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These heartbreaking delays lay bare the human cost of the SNP’s failure to get a grip on Scotland’s cancer crisis.

“Behind these statistics is someone who spent months living in fear, waiting too long to start treatment they desperately needed.

“Every missed target is a reminder of why we need to get rid of the SNP at the Holyrood election.

“The SNP cannot be trusted to cut treatment waiting times and, if they get a majority in May, their focus will be on independence, not the ticking timebomb on cancer care.

“That’s why it’s so important to vote Scottish Conservative on your peach ballot paper wherever you live in Scotland – it’s your secret weapon to stop an SNP majority.”

The SNP spokesperson said: “The reality is we are treating more patients with cancer on time, within both standards, compared to pre-pandemic and 10 years ago.

“We’ve seen improvements consistently for the last four quarters, with 95.6% of patients being treated within 31 days and the median wait for treatment just two days – the joint lowest on record.

“Under the SNP, our rapid cancer diagnostic services are giving people a much faster diagnosis after referral, but we are determined to do more.

“Our plan for the NHS is working – that’s what you get from an SNP government on Scotland’s side and it’s what you get from John Swinney’s strong leadership which is focused on driving improvements in our NHS.”