PATIENTS diagnosed with a common cancer through a major screening programme in Scotland are waiting too long for treatment.
Health service statistics show 85.6% of patients diagnosed with bowel cancer through routine stool screening were treated within 62 days of referral, against a Scottish Government target of 95%.
Almost all breast cancer patients picked up through national screening are treated within the target time, according to the latest figures.
Across Scotland 94.5% of patients started cancer treatment within 62 days of urgent referral, between April and June, but the proportion fell to 88.9% in Grampian.
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