STARK WARNING OVER FALLING CANCER SURVIVAL RATES

SNP's failure to meet key NHS treatment targets branded a "ticking timebomb for Scotland'

- BY RICHARD ELIAS

CANCER survival rates for some forms of the disease have shown an “alarming” drop, new research has revealed.

The findings yesterday led to opposition parties criticising the Scottish Government over its failure to meet key targets.

One said the SNP had never met any of their waiting times targets in the 14 since they were introduced.

The shocking statistics came as a plethora of other reports also highlighted the critical status of the NHS north of the Border with massive differences in life expectancy for those living in the most-deprived or least-deprived areas.

Meanwhile, targets to tackle long waits for NHS treatment are also set to be missed, while A&E waiting times continue to rise.

Holyrood's own stipulations say 95% of cancer patients should start treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred when the disease is suspected. Yet, the findings paint a bleak picture in many cases.

For example, the proportion of patients still alive a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia has fallen from 77.9%. to 75.4%. Meanwhile, fewer people were also still alive 12 months after being diagnosed with cancer of the head or neck.

According to Public Health Scotland (PHS) so-called "age-standardised" survival rates for this form of the disease fell from 75.2% to 72.6%.