Cancer treatment times across region improve ‘significantly’

NHS Ayrshire chief says health board ‘probably the best in Scotland’

- KEVIN DYSON

Cancer treatment performance across Ayrshire and Arran has improved significantly, with NHS chiefs reporting that more patients are beginning treatment within national targets.

Chief Executive Gordon James told the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Board that they were ‘probably the best in Scotland’ when it comes to patients being treated within one month of a ‘decision to treat’ cancer, and second for starting treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.

A report presented to NHS Ayrshire & Arran Board showed performance against the national 62-day cancer treatment standard rose to 86.3 per cent in March 2026, exceeding the health board's local target of 78 per cent.

The figure continues an upward trend from earlier in the year.