Scots cancer treatment targets met – but 'postcode lottery' still exists

Published on Tuesday 16 February 2010 21:59

THE NHS in Scotland is hitting its target for speeding up access to cancer treatment, but variations persist across the country.

A target of having at least 95 per cent of patients urgently referred with suspected cancer starting treatment within two months has now been met for a year.

The latest figures, for July to September last year, show 96 per cent hit this target, up from 95.7 per cent the previous quarter. The average wait for patients needing treatment now stands at 35 days.

But the results for different types of cancer ranged from 97.3 per cent for breast cancer and 97 per cent for urological cancers, such as prostate cancer, to 93.4 per cent for colorectal cancer.

There were also variations across the country, prompting claims of a "postcode lottery".

Three NHS boards – Borders, Shetland and Orkney – had 100 per cent of patients starting treatment in two months. This fell to 94.3 per cent in Fife. Western Isles came in at 80 per cent, though this was based on only ten patients – eight of whom started treatment within two months.

The longest wait in Scotland was a urological cancer patient in the NHS Grampian area who waited 185 days.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "These figures show that 96 per cent of people who are urgently referred and go on to be diagnosed with cancer are receiving treatment within two months – against a target of 95 per cent.

"This progress has now been sustained for a whole year and the figures show the average wait is 35 days, meaning the majority of patients urgently referred are actually treated within six weeks."

Ms Sturgeon praised NHS staff who had hard worked to achieve the milestone.

"But we know there's more to do and are working towards new targets by the end of 2011, including the ambitious goal to start treatment for all cancer patients within 31 days of their decision to treat," she said.

Hilary Tovey, Cancer Research UK's policy manager, said: "It's very encouraging to see the overall waiting times target for cancer treatment is still being reached.

"Waiting for treatment to start can be a very distressing period and, where possible, patients should begin treatment as soon as appropriate.

"But there is still variation across Scotland, and between cancers. It's important that everyone diagnosed with cancer has access to treatment within the target waiting times, irrespective of where they live or the type of cancer they are diagnosed with."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "NHS staff across Scotland should be praised for their hard work in driving down waiting times.

"We must, however, tackle the postcode lottery that still exists. We want to see waiting times in NHS Fife and Western Isles meeting these targets, so every Scottish person can expect prompt treatment country-wide."

CANCER TYPES

THE percentage of patients treated within 62 days of urgent referral by cancer type:

Breast 97.3

Colorectal 93.4

Head & neck 95.0

Lung 95.9

Lymphoma 95.2

Melanoma 96.4

Ovarian 95.5

Upper GI 95.9

Urology 97.0

All nine cancers 96.0