Health Secretary has welcomed new figures showing
the 31-day cancer treatment standard has been met, but stressed
there is more work to do on the 62-day standard for people with
an urgent suspicion of cancer.
Latest quarterly statistics show 95.3% of patients diagnosed with
cancer started their first treatment within 31 days of the
decision to treat. The median wait for treatment was two days,
the joint lowest on record.
Performance against the 62-day standard is 69.9%, a slight
improvement on the previous quarter but still below the 95%
standard. From April to June there were 4,888 eligible referrals
against the 62- day standard - an 11.8% increase from the
previous quarter, and a 31.3% increase compared to the quarter
ending 31 December 2019.
Health Secretary said:
“It is positive that the 31-day standard has been met, with 95.3%
of patients starting their cancer treatment within 31 days. The
median wait for treatment was two days, this is the joint lowest
on record. This is testament to all of our hard-working teams
across the country and I thank them for their outstanding
efforts. We're treating more patients with cancer on time within
both the 31-day and 62-day standards, compared to pre-pandemic
and 10 years ago.
“However, continued diagnostic pressure and an increase in
referrals is affecting 62-day performance. We recognise that we
must do more to ensure more patients are treated within the
62-day standard.
“I am determined to drive further improvements and have directed
£14.23 million of the £110 million in additional planned care
funding for 2025/26 to Cancer Waiting Times, with a focus on
colorectal, urological and breast as our most challenged
pathways.”
Background
Cancer waiting times
Cancer incidence in
Scotland
