Highlands MSP slams ‘appalling’ cancer treatment waiting times in region
A regional MSP has criticised NHS Highland’s handling of cancer referral, treatment and waiting times.
Edward Mountain (Scottish Conservative) referred to latest figures which reveal that over a quarter of cancer patients across Scotland are not being seen within the Scottish Government’s 62-day target time to begin treatment following referral.
Of the 319 patients referred in the last quarter of 2024, 28.5 per cent of patients in NHS Highland were forced to wait over 62 days.
Five per cent even had to wait more than 110 days – nearly twice the Scottish Government’s target.
The longest a patient was kept waiting was 165 days.
Mr Mountain today that the ‘appalling’ waiting times in are putting lives at risk, given that starting treatment as early as possible is crucial to a patient’s chance of survival.
The MSP spoke publicly about his own experience with bowel cancer and a stoma a few years ago.
He has accused the Scottish Government of failing to invest in frontline care in NHS Highland saying successive health secretaries have failed to meet their national target for well over a decade now.
Mr Mountain believes there is still have no clear plan to fix the cancer care crisis in NHS Highland.
He said: “These appalling waiting times are putting lives at risk.
“Everyone knows someone who has had cancer. Starting treatment as early as possible is vital for the best chances of survival.
“Despite the best efforts of dedicated staff in NHS Highland, they simply do not have the resources to ensure all patients are seen on time.
“This is a trend which is mirrored Scotland-wide, with over a quarter of patients not being seen within the Scottish Government’s 62-day target wait time.
“Patients are dealing with the consequences of successive health secretaries failing to invest in frontline care, and having no plan to fix the cancer care crisis.
“The Scottish Government have failed to meet their national cancer waiting time target for over a decade now.
“Patients should certainly not have to wait nearly 6 months for treatment, as one constituent did at the end of 2024.”
An NHS Highland spokesman said: “We are doing everything we can to improve waiting times for our patients.
“We very much recognise that every day that a patient has to wait can cause stress and anxiety that we should be trying to minimise.
“We continuously look at our cancer services and reprioritise all activity to ensure those with cancer and other life limiting conditions access timely services.
“This is significant challenge given an increased number of referrals locally and nationally, and in some cases with a reduced number of staff available to help assess and diagnose them.”
