Mixed results on cancer wait times

HEALTH Secretary Neil Gray has welcomed new figures showing the 31-day cancer treatment standard has been met locally, but stressed there is more work to do on the 62-day standard for people with an urgent suspicion of cancer. At NHS Dumfries and Galloway, the 31-day standard was met for 98.6 per cent of all eligible referrals for all cancer types between April 1 and June 30. The standard states that 95 per cent of eligible patients should wait no longer than 31 days from decision to treat to first cancer treatment.

Meanwhile, the 62-day standard states that 95 per cent of eligible patients should wait no longer than 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment. However, NHS DG failed to meet that target, with only 75.9 per cent of patients being treated within the standard. Health Secretary Neil Gray today said: “It is positive that the 31-day standard has been met. The median wait for treatment (across Scotland) 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 ten 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.”