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Cancer charity slams NHS Highland over failed waiting times targets

"NHS Scotland is failing time-based targets more and more often, so our perception of the health service is that it is getting worse but in fact treatment has never been safer and more effective."
"NHS Scotland is failing time-based targets more and more often, so our perception of the health service is that it is getting worse but in fact treatment has never been safer and more effective."

A cancer charity has slammed NHS Scotland in the north after it was revealed targets for patient waiting times are not being hit.

The report, published by ISD Scotland showed that between January and March this year, 12.8% of NHS Highland patients had not started treatment within 62 days of being referred.

And 13.8% of NHS Grampian patients had not begun treatment in the same timeframe either. The target for trusts in Scotland is for 95% of sufferers to have started receiving treatment.

Head of Macmillan in Scotland Janice Preston said: “We are disappointed that, once again, the cancer waiting times target has been missed. The target has now been missed for over four years.

“Waiting for the results of tests or to start treatment can cause real distress to people with cancer and their families at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.”

An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “Within Highland, we have particular pressures in meeting the targets within Urology and Colorectal. Urology in particular is a problem for most of the Boards in Scotland.

“We are continuing to work with national colleagues to improve matters and have agreed a number of actions, but these will take time to implement.

“All patients are treated on a case-by-case basis in order to minimise any delay as much as possible. “