MORE cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment in Scotland, sparking calls for government action.
New figures show a further drop in the proportion of patients who receive therapy or surgery within two months of being referred to hospital with worrying symptoms.
The official data reveals 90per cent of patients are treated in line with the target, compared to 95per cent two years ago.
Macmillan Cancer Support called on the Scottish Government to publish a cancer plan including details of how they are going to address the problem.
Janice Preston, head of the charity in Scotland, said: “We are disappointed that the cancer waiting times have been missed since the start of 2013. Scotland lags behind the best in Europe for cancer survival rates – we urgently need the Scottish Cancer Plan to be published to start addressing these figures.”
The charity has been campaigning for a new cancer strategy in Scotland for two years and were expecting details of a plan to be published last spring.
The Scottish Government say they are currently working with interested parties and anticipate releasing the plan next spring.
Since the start of last winter the proportion of cancer patients who wait longer than the two month target to commence treatment has tumbled.
The new figures show four of the country's 14 boards achieving the aim of treating 95per cent of their patients within the time frame.
NHS Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Tayside, Western Isles, Fife, Lothian, Ayrshire and Arran and Greater Glasgow and Clyde all missed the benchmark.
The national picture showing nine out of ten patients starting treatment within 62 days is a reduction on 92.1per cent earlier this year.
Colin Graham, chief executive of Cancer Support Scotland - which provides free counselling and therapy to those affected by cancer, said: “Every day counts when someone is diagnosed with cancer. A great deal of attention is paid to A&E waiting times and it’s time the same level of attention was given to cancer waiting times.
“It is hugely disappointing that so many NHS boards are failing to meet the 62 day standard and Health Secretary Shona Robison should be asking them some hard questions.”
A second government cancer target has been met. This looks at the speed at which those diagnosed with cancer start treatment once their consultants have agreed a care plan. It found the average wait was only seven days against a standard of 31 days. However, three health boards including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, are not treating enough patients in time.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "It is vital that we treat cancer as quickly as possible and that's why we have set rigorous standards in this area."
She said cancer services had improved significantly in recent years, but added that more needed to be done. Ms Robison said: "Earlier this year I announced an additional, targeted £5.25m to help boards improve diagnostics and build capacity, with help for boards that are experiencing particular pressures, to cut waiting times and ensure patients get the speedy tests and treatment they need."
Ms Robison said the government was committed to publishing their new cancer strategy by spring 2016 and it would include further investment in cancer services.
"Overall cancer death rates have dropped by 11% over the past ten years and the overall cancer mortality rate for 2014 is the lowest over the past decade.
"Meanwhile, our £39 million Detect Cancer Early programme is focused on diagnosing the illness at an earlier stage when chances of survival are higher and helping save more lives every year.
"This has resulted in the number of people in Scotland living for at least five years after a cancer diagnosis reaching a record high.
"However, we know more needs to be done. Earlier this year I announced an additional, targeted £5.25 million to help boards improve diagnostics and build capacity, with help for boards that are experiencing particular pressures, to cut waiting times and ensure patients get the speedy tests and treatment they need."
Ms Robison said the Scottish Government was committed to publishing a new cancer strategy by spring 2016, which will include further investment in cancer services.
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