Cancer treatment time target broken for more than a quarter of patients

Responding to figures showing that more than a quarter of cancer patients had not started treatment within the 62-day standard between April and June, with the target missed in every health board area, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley MSP said:

“Cancer patients deserve so much better than a Scottish Government that has failed to meet this crucial waiting time standard for almost 15 years.

“Three years into a cancer strategy that promised faster diagnosis, these figures show that patients are still being left waiting far too long for answers and treatment. That simply isn’t good enough.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would bring down waiting times and roll out a national lung cancer screening programme capable of saving hundreds of lives every year.

“We would also welcome talented US scientists whose work has been disrupted by the Trump administration, so they can continue their cancer research here and help us build a world-class fight against this disease.”