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Cancer waiting times
26/06/2012
Commenting on cancer waiting times statistics released today, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We know that the earlier cancer is detected and treated, the greater the chance of survival and that is why the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that those patients requiring the most urgent treatment have swift access to the services they need.
"Through our Detect Cancer Early programme we are investing £30 million in ensuring that patients across Scotland receive the best possible treatment in the shortest possible timescale.
"These statistics show that waiting times for cancer treatment remain consistently low, with almost 98 per cent of patients starting treatment within 31 days. In fact, half of these patients were treated within six days.
"In addition, just under 95 per cent of patients were treated within 62 days.
"Our cervical and breast cancer screening programmes also continue to perform well with 100 per cent of cervical screening patients and 99 per cent of breast screening patients treated within 31 days.
"NHS staff across Scotland will continue working hard to maintain this level of performance as the Detect Cancer Early Programme develops over the coming months and years."
Related Information:
The cancer waiting times statistics are available at www.isdscotland.org