Concern over cancer waiting times in Grampian
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Scottish Conservative candidate for Gordon and Buchan Harriet Cross has urged the SNP-Green Government to assist NHS Grampian in addressing cancer waiting times which are among the highest in Scotland.
Ms Cross’ call comes after new statistics showed just 54.4 per cent of patients in Grampian started treatment two months after being referred between October and December 2023.
The figure was worse than the previous quarter when 57 per cent were seen within the two-month target time.
One patient in Grampian waited a “scarcely believable” 312 days to begin treatment last year.
Ms Cross said starting cancer treatment early is “crucial” for a patient’s chance of survival and successive SNP health secretaries have failed to tackle the cancer waiting time crisis in the north-east.
She has urged SNP health secretary Neil Gray to urgently improve cancer waiting times to prevent more patients across Aberdeenshire facing the potentially devastating consequences of delays to their treatment.
Ms Cross, said: “We are facing a ticking timebomb when it comes to cancer cases in NHS Grampian.
“It should shame SNP ministers that just over half, 54 per cent, of north-east cancer patients started treatment within the target time of two months in the last few months of last year.
“Everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed with this awful disease and how crucial starting treatment is for their chances of survival.
“Successive SNP health secretaries have simply failed to get a grip of this and provide sufficient help needed for NHS Grampian to tackle these delays.
“It is scarcely believable that one patient waited 312 days to begin treatment which is completely unacceptable and the toll that this must have taken on them and their family is unimaginable.
“I urge Neil Gray – the SNP health secretary – to act now to urgently improve this situation for cancer patients in Grampian.”
A NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: “The latest statistics show the average wait, against the 62 day target, was 57 days, while the average wait against the 31 day target was three days. Both are ahead of the national average.
“Cancer is a complex disease and delays can be due to determining the best type of treatment for the individual.
“We want to assure everyone in Grampian of our commitment to meeting the standard and starting treatment of cancer as quickly as possible.
“We are facing particular challenges in our diagnostic services, in terms of both staffing and demand. We are working hard to improve the capacity we have available.”
SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray said the NHS remains under pressure with more patients on the 62 and 31 day pathways than before the Covid pandemic.
He said: “We’re also treating more patients with cancer on time, within both standards, compared to pre-pandemic and 10 years ago.
“Despite this, there will always be instances where some patients wait longer depending on their health, complexity of disease and agreed treatment plan.
“The 31-day standard was narrowly missed this quarter, and the median wait for treatment was just five days.
“Nevertheless, we remain absolutely committed to reducing waiting times and a further £10 million of funding has been given in 2023/24 to support this improvement.”
