This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Scotland hospitals missing cancer waiting time targets
Official statistics have shown that a number of hospitals in Scotland are missing cancer treatment waiting times.
The figures found that only 90.2 per cent of patients with an urgent cancer referral began treatment within 62 days. Similarly, the 31-day target for first treatment after the decision to treat was narrowly missed was 94.9 per cent, with both targets set at 95 per cent.
Scotland’s Health Secretary Shona Robison commented: "The figures show that once a decision has been made for a patient to receive treatment, the median wait for this is less than a week.
"However, further improvements need to be made to ensure that everybody in Scotland, no matter where they live or what type of cancer they have, are able to get timely access to cancer diagnostics and treatment."
However, the data did show that some NHS boards across Scotland did hit their targets, with Borders, Dumfries & Galloway and Lanarkshire all hitting the 72-day standard. Furthermore, eleven out of 15 NHS boards met their 31-day target, while Grampian, Glasgow & Clyde, Lothian and Tayside missed out.
Overall, there was a 0.6 per cent drop in the 62-day target success rate and a 1.5 per cent decline in the 31-day rate.
The news came shortly after a new £100 million cancer strategy was launched in March, to invest in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare as well as improving treatment waiting times.
Emlyn Samuel, a spokesman for Cancer Research UK, said: "It is unacceptable that time and time again these targets aren't met.
"Cancer is still Scotland's most common cause of death. To give patients the best chance of survival it is vital they are diagnosed and treated swiftly. This should be a priority in Scotland's new cancer strategy as we need to see fast progress to address poor waiting times."
He added: "The SNP response to not meeting their targets is to review those targets. I have repeatedly asked them to confirm that cancer waiting times will be exempt from their review."
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