Commenting on the announcement of cancer waiting times, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie said:

“The fact that there is progress towards meeting long-overdue targets for cancer waiting times is to be welcomed.

“It is worrying, however, that leading cancer specialists are claiming the waiting time initiative does not provide the most appropriate measure of cancer care and has serious flaws, particularly in the damage it has done to clinical audit of treatment and outcome.

“This is a serious allegation by senior clinicians and the public are entitled to an explanation from the Cabinet Secretary as to whether she is prepared to move to a more appropriate measure for cancer care and rectify the damage done to the clinical audit of treatment and outcome.”