A key waiting times target for the treatment of cancer patients in Scotland has been missed, according to new figures.

A total of 94.4% of sufferers started cancer treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred because it was suspected they had the disease.

It is slightly below the Scottish Government's 95% target and under the 95.8% achieved in the previous quarter.

Eight of Scotland's 14 regional health boards failed to meet the target in January to March this year, with 83.3% of patients starting their treatment within two months of being urgently referred in Orkney.

NHS Highland had the lowest proportion on the mainland, with 90.2% of cancer patients starting treatment within the 62-day target time, compared to 98.6% in the Borders health board area.

There were also seven types of cancer – including cervical, bowel and lung – where the 95% target was not achieved.

A total of 89.3% of people who were referred as it was suspected they had cervical cancer started treatment in two months, along with 92.4% of people thought to have bowel cancer and 93.5% of those suspected of having lung cancer.

Meanwhile, 98% of breast cancer patients and 99% of skin cancer patients were treated in the target time.

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "The SNP have failed to meet the 62-day treatment guarantee, eight health boards have not achieved targets and seven out of 10 cancer categories remain below the threshold."

She urged the Scottish Government to bring in tougher targets, arguing "tighter targets would ensure there is no room for complacency".

Ms Baillie said: "It's not acceptable we have staff vacancies unfilled, no access to CT scans or MRIs and capacity issues not being addressed.

"Early detection is critical to reducing the grip cancer has on society and I once again urge the SNP to lower the waiting times to two weeks from initial test to diagnosis to lessen the stress on patients and their families."

While the target of having patients start treatment within 62 days of urgent referral was not met January to March, another key cancer waiting times target was hit.

A total of 97.8% of patients started receiving help within 31 days of a decision being taken on how to treat them. While this meant the 95% target was achieved, it was down from 98.2% in the previous quarter.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are seeing long-term improvements in cancer waiting times and people are being treated faster than ever and living longer as a result. More than 97% of patients started treatment within 31 days of decision to treat, against a target of 95% and over half of these people had their treatment started in just six days.

"In this last quarter, 94.4% of those urgently referred started treatment within 62 days, although this is against a target of 95%, over half of these patients started treatment within only 37 days. While the target was only missed by 0.6%, we are working closely with boards to help improve their performance."

The figures emerged after the government announced it was giving women at most risk of developing breast cancer a new gold standard drug.

Tamoxifen is to be offered, for a five-year term, to people with two or more family members who have had breast cancer.

The drug is being used preventatively for the first time, after recent studies that showed it can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by up to 50%.

About 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, including 4500 in Scotland. The move has been welcomed by campaigners at Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Genetic testing will also be offered to affected women who have a 10% chance of having a faulty gene.