'Lives will be lost' warning as damning new cancer waiting time statistics published

Figures from Public Health Scotland show that 29.3 per cent of patients waited longer than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent suspected cancer referral between July and September.

Only 70.7 per cent of patients on an urgent referral for a suspicion of cancer started treatment within 62 days during this quarter, well below the 95 per cent target.

This is the fifth worst performance on record since 2012.

The figure for July to September is a very slight improvement on the to 69.9 per cent recorded in the quarter before.

Dr Sorcha Hume, Scottish public affairs manager at Cancer Research UK, said “Waiting to find out if you have cancer is a hugely distressing time for people.

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“NHS staff are also stretched to the limit and, without action, delays will persist.

“As we approach the new year, the Scottish Government must make a firm resolution to invest in the NHS workforce and equipment, as well as innovative ways of working.

“There’s no time to lose. The cancer crisis is urgent. Without immediate action, countless lives will be lost.”

The Scottish Conservatives said the “gross mismanagement” of the NHS by the SNP means Scotland is now facing a “ticking timebomb”.

Brian Whittle MSP, the party’s public health spokesman, said: “These shocking figures confirm Scotland is facing a ticking timebomb of cancer cases on the SNP’s watch.

“Early diagnosis is crucial for a patient’s chances of survival, but gross mismanagement from successive SNP health secretaries means no health board met this crucial target in the latest quarter.

“The prospect of doctors striking next month will terrify those waiting to start treatment as they might have to wait even further to do so.

“SNP ministers cannot continue to hide behind the pandemic as an excuse for these appalling waiting times as they have not met their cancer waiting time targets since 2012.

“It is time for [Health Secretary] Neil Gray to accept that his current approach is failing far too many cancer patients across the country.”

Mr Whittle added the Scottish Government should adopt the Scottish Conservatives’ proposals to “slash bureaucracy” within the NHS to invest more money in frontline services like cancer care.

Dame Jackie Baillie MSP, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, said: “Nowhere is the SNP’s failure clearer than in the state of Scotland’s NHS.

“After 18 years in charge, Scotland’s health service is no longer free and available at the point of need for Scots, with many now having to go private to get help.

“More than a decade has now passed since the SNP last met its 62-day treatment target, with thousands of patients being let down in that time despite the hard work and dedication of NHS staff.

“It is simply not good enough, with Scotland facing a cancer timebomb and the poorest communities being hit hardest as a result of the SNP’s failings.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I’m pleased that our performance against the 31-day standard has remained strong at 95.1 per cent, with patients starting treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat.

“The median wait for treatment is just two days - joint lowest on record.

“Whilst the median wait from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to treatment is 51 days, we’re committed to ensuring more patients are treated within the 62-day standard.

“We recognise the diagnostic pressures affecting some high-volume pathways and are working to address these challenges.

“Cancer remains a national priority, which is why we published our ambitious 10-year strategy in June 2023, focused on improving survival rates and ensuring equitable access to treatment across Scotland.”