Ministers miss their targets on own vital cancer data

WAITING times for cancer patients in Scotland have risen to their worst levels since records began more than a decade ago.

- David Walker

Last night, the figures led to claims that patients are being "abandoned" by the Scottish Government.

The data released yesterday by Public Health Scotland (PHS) looked at two specific cancer waiting times.

These were the 62-day standard based on the time from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment.

A 31-day standard measures the time from a decision to treat to the start of first treatment for newly-diagnosed primary cancers.

Almost one-third of patients referred to the NHS Scotland with an urgent suspicion of cancer are waiting longer than Holyrood's 62-day target to start treatment.

The rate fell to just 68.9% in the first three months of 2025 the lowest reported since records began a decade ago.

A target that 95% of patients should start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis has also not been met.

However, the 62-day standard has not been met since the last quarter of 2012.

In the first four months of this year only one of Scotland's 14 NHS boards reached the target with 95.8% of patients being seen within 62 days at NHS Lanarkshire.

The Scottish Tories described the findings as "soul-destroying".