Waiting times for cancer treatment reached a record length this summer, putting many Scots at a higher risk from cancer.
A public health Scotland report found that almost 1 in 4 patients were waiting for more than 62 days from the first urgent suspicion of cancer referral to the date of first treatment. Only one health board met this standard, NHS Borders. In addition, three health boards failed to meet the 31 day standard, which marked the time between the decision to treat cancer and the first treatment date. One of these boards was NHS Lanarkshire, one of the largest health boards in the nation. The failure to meet the 62 day standard continues a trend of longer waiting times for cancer treatment. Waiting times have been rising for a decade but have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a backlog that has yet to be resolved. The report noted that staffing and capacity issues were the primary reason behind the longer waiting times.
Of the report’s findings, Janice Preston of Macmillan Cancer Support Scotland said:
"These latest figures show a struggling system which cannot meet demand - despite the hard work of staff - and this must be addressed urgently."
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene addressed the situation in his local Ayrshire and Arran health board. He tweeted:
“It should be a source of shame for the Health Secretary that cancer patients locally are suffering longer and longer delays. Instead of talking about constitutional issues, it's time to talk about healthcare”.
Cancer is the leading cause of death across the UK, causing over a quarter of deaths. While BAME communities are less susceptible to cancer on average, specific types of cancer can see a higher prevalence among BAME Scots. For example, while Black people are less at risk of developing lung or breast cancer, they are more susceptible to developing stomach or prostate cancer according to a government report. Because of this, funding a healthcare system that can diagnose and treat cancers as quickly as possible is vital to protecting everyone from the risks of cancer. An early diagnosis and treatment are considered the most effective tool for combatting cancer, as they can tackle cancer before it spreads. Despite this being well known, the Scottish Government has struggled to keep waiting periods short between a cancer diagnosis or referral, and the beginning of treatment.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Dr Sandesh Gulhane said:
"When a patient comes to see me with signs of cancer, I act quickly because time is vital to their survival - yet these figures highlight a truly terrifying reality when it comes to cancer diagnosis in Scotland."
The failure to hit these healthcare targets reveals a broader problem with the Scottish Government’s approach to healthcare. The backlog of patients caused by the pandemic has put a strain on all healthcare services, which are struggling to cope as a result. By neglecting the NHS, the Scottish Government puts thousands of Scots awaiting cancer treatment in jeopardy.