By Mary Fleming
The lives of cancer sufferers are being put at risk as the SNP Government fails to meet treatment time targets, says MSP Jackie Baillie.
NHS boards failed again to meet the Scottish Government’s 62 day target, which demands newly-diagnosed cancer patients wait no longer than 62 days to begin treatment from urgent suspicion of cancer referral.
A new report by Public Health Scotland has revealed that in the quarter ending 30 June 2024, NHS Scotland missed its 62-day cancer treatment standard again, with just 73.2 per cent of patients starting treatment on time.
Every single Health Board in Scotland missed the 62-day standard this quarter, and it has not been met nationwide since 2012.
The 62-day standard states that 95 per cent of eligible patients should wait no longer than 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment.
Scottish Labour said it was a “national scandal” that this target has not been met in over a decade.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was one of 13 health boards, which did meet the 31 day standard, which sees treatment begin within that timeframe for all newly-diagnosed primary cancers, regardless of referral route.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had previously been one of five boards who missed the 31 day target.
Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie, pictured right, said “Cancer remains Scotland’s biggest killer, but key targets are still being missed.
“Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial so it is nothing short of a national scandal that the SNP has not met its 62-day cancer treatment standard in over a decade.
“Fantastic NHS staff are working tirelessly to deliver the standard of treatment patients deserve, but long waits are putting lives on the line.
“The SNP must wake up to the crisis it has presided over and take urgent action to ensure cancer patients get the swift treatment they need.”
Cancer waiting times – 1 April to 30 June 2024:
The 62-day standard states that 95% of eligible patients should wait no longer than 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment (with 5% tolerance level due to clinical appropriateness).
- There were 4,450 eligible referrals for the 62-day standard, an increase of 3.6% from the previous quarter, but an increase of 19.5% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019.
- 73.2% of patients started treatment within the 62-day standard, compared with 70.5% in the previous quarter, and 83.7% in the quarter ending 31 December 2019.
The 62-day standard was not met by any NHS Board.
The UK is an economy in decline.
Maybe Jackie can ask Keir Starmer to provide more money for the NHS.
Starmer currently is putting into place big big cuts. Noy quite the no austerity programme promised.
Or will the proposal to increase NHS privatisation as is now well underway in England will be Sir Keir’s recipe for more care.
Or am I missing something not thinking that everything from cancer care, to housing, to education, to lack of police, to mental health treatment is all the SNP’s fault.