Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is vital
Alison Johnstone, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, today expressed concern at a further drop in the number of patients in Lothian region being referred and treated for cancer within NHS target times.
The NHS standard is that 95 per cent of patients should start their first treatment within 62 days of first being referred. New figures show that between January and March this year, only 92 per cent of patients in Lothian received such treatment, a drop from 93.3 between October and December last year, and 93.7 between July and September last year.
The other NHS standard is that 95 per cent of patients should wait no more than 31 days from decision to treat to first cancer treatment. Between January and March this year, only 94.8 per cent of patients started treatment with this standard, a drop from 96.6 between October and December last year, and 97.1 between July and September last year.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
"Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is vital so these figures are a real concern. The pressures on the workforce in the NHS are well known and it's essential that Scottish Ministers and Health Boards increase their efforts to recruit and retain additional staff.
"We must see more effort to improve the connections in our health and social care services so that we are moving people efficiently from seeing their GP through to specialist treatment and then appropriate care at or near home. We must also do more to reduce the risk of cancer by removing toxic materials from our environment and increasing preventative spending to make healthier lifestyles easier for all."
Cancer Waiting Times in NHS Scotland January to March 2016 (ISD Scotland)