All NHS Scotland boards fail urgent cancer treatment time target, figures show

No NHS board in Scotland met the 62-day target for 95% of patients to begin cancer treatment after being urgently referred, latest figures show.

The statistics, covering from July to September, show around 1,400 (29.3%) patients waited longer than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent suspected cancer referral.

Public Health Scotland’s report shows the wait times are the fifth-worst on record.

“These worrying new figures show that Scotland’s patchwork cancer care system is still fraying around the edges,” said Peter Hastie, external affairs manager for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“That’s even before we see the impact of the additional winter pressures expected over the next few months.”

At the start of 2025, Scotland recorded the worst performance against the 62-day national cancer waiting times target since current records began.

Although wait times have slightly improved since then, they remain worse compared with the same time last year.

Dr Sorcha Hume, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “Waiting to find out if you have cancer is a hugely distressing time for people.

“NHS staff are also stretched to the limit and, without action, delays will persist.

“As we approach the new year, the Scottish Government must make a firm resolution to invest in the NHS workforce and equipment, as well as innovative ways of working.

“There’s no time to lose. The cancer crisis is urgent. Without immediate action, countless lives will be lost.”

The Scottish Conservatives said the figures were “shocking”.

“The prospect of doctors striking next month will terrify those waiting to start treatment as they might have to wait even further to do so,” said shadow public health minister Brian Whittle MSP.

“SNP ministers cannot continue to hide behind the pandemic as an excuse for these appalling waiting times as they have not met their cancer waiting time targets since 2012.

“It is time for Neil Gray to accept that his current approach is failing far too many cancer patients across the country.”