- New figures show almost 2,500 people with cancer in Scotland waited too long to start their treatment in the first half of this year.
- 2 in 3 cancer patients across the UK are worried for their survival.
Commenting on the most recent figures Kate Seymour, Head of Advocacy (Geographies) for Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“Although we have seen some slight improvements, today’s figures still show that almost 2,500 people with cancer in Scotland have waited too long to start their treatment in the first half of this year. This is sadly a familiar picture — far too many people with cancer are still waiting far too long for their diagnosis and treatment.
“Despite the tireless efforts of NHS staff, the healthcare system is at breaking point. Two in three cancer patients in the UK are worried for their survival, and one of the two national targets in Scotland has now been missed for over a decade.
“Behind these figures are real people whose lives are thrown into chaos because of a cancer diagnosis, and they deserve better.
“The Scottish Government must take action to ensure people living with cancer get the care they need before the situation gets any worse. That means bolstering the cancer workforce and investing in equipment to ensure people are diagnosed early, treated quickly and supported through all the impacts cancer can have on their lives.
“Macmillan is here to support everyone affected by cancer. Our Support Line is open 7 days a week from 8am -8pm or you can visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk”
Key facts
- Macmillan’s analysis of today’s official NHS data confirms that so far this year, almost 2,500 people with cancer in Scotland waited more than two months to start treatment following an urgent referral(i)
- While one of the two national cancer waiting times targets in Scotland was met in April to June of this year, the other was missed again, showing that NHS cancer services in Scotland are still struggling under intense pressure(ii)
- Other recent data from Macmillan shows that concerns about long waits and delays have hit new highs among people with cancer in the UK. Two in three people currently having cancer treatment in the UK (66%) are worried about general pressures on the NHS affecting their chances of survival(iii), the highest level since Macmillan started tracking this issue in November 2022, and an increase from 59% in January this year during peak winter pressures for the NHS(iv)
- Today’s NHS data shows that in April to June 2024, around 300 people newly diagnosed with cancer in Scotland waited more than a month to start treatment following the clinical decision to do so, and almost 1,200 waited more than two months to start treatment following their initial urgent referral for suspected cancer(v)
- Performance against the 62-day target was slightly better than in January to March of this year, but slightly worse than at the same time last year. Performance against the 31-day target improved from the previous quarter and the target was met for the first time since April to June last year(vi)