Scotland’s cancer crisis has been laid bare

Scotland’s cancer wait times have hit the worst levels on record, as shown by a Public Health Scotland report that was released today. Under 72 per cent of eligible patients received their first cancer treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred in the quarter ending 31 December 2022, while the target is 95 per cent. This revelation comes less than a week after new health secretary Michael Matheson was appointed to Humza Yousaf’s cabinet, and will make for uncomfortable viewing.

Of 4,262 eligible patients who were referred urgently for cancer treatment, over 1,200 were left waiting for more than 62 days after they had been referred before they received their first dose. Eligible patients are those referred urgently by their GP, a national cancer screening programme or direct hospital referral with a suspicion of cancer. 

The new figures show a decrease from 75 per cent of patients who met the 62-day standard in the previous quarter.