Cancer patients who are urgently referred for treatment in Fife, Tayside and Forth Valley are waiting over 6 months for this to start despite the Scottish Government setting a maximum wait time of 2 months.
Under Scottish Government targets, cancer patients urgently referred should begin treatment within 62 days.
This latest information was uncovered by the Scottish Conservatives through a parliamentary question with additional information provided by SPICe.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Liz Smith said;
“The fact that cancer patients in need of urgent care in Fife, Forth Valley and Tayside are waiting between 4 and 6 months for their treatment to start is unacceptable.
“If a cancer patient is urgently referred by a doctor, they should not have to wait longer than the 62-day target timeframe.
“If anything, with so much at stake, they should be seen to even more quickly.
“The Scottish Government must work hard to ensure that patients in Forth Valley, Tayside and Fife are supported throughout their cancer journey and that means treatment starting as soon as possible.”