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New data released by Public Health Scotland indicates a concerning trend in the percentage of Scottish cancer patients receiving treatment within the target time frame. The figures show that almost a third of patients referred to the NHS with an urgent suspicion of cancer are waiting longer than the 62-day target to commence treatment. This marks a drop to 68.9% in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest reported figure since records began a decade ago.
Furthermore, the statistics show that the target of having 95% of patients start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis has not been achieved, with only 94.1% of patients receiving treatment within that timeframe. NHS Lanarkshire stands out as the sole health board meeting the 62-day target for urgent referrals, highlighting disparities in cancer care across Scotland.
In response to the data, Scottish Conservatives health spokesman Dr. Sandesh Gulhane expressed concern over the delays in treatment, stating that even one patient waiting over two months is unacceptable. He criticized SNP ministers for failing to meet waiting time targets for over a decade and urged immediate action to address the issue.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the critical importance of early intervention in cancer cases. He lamented the lengthy waits patients are facing and emphasized the need for government intervention to ensure timely access to treatment. The figures come amid growing concerns raised by the British Medical Association in Scotland about disparities in healthcare access between those who can afford private care and those reliant on the NHS
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