Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has warned of a “ticking timebomb” of cancer cases in Tayside.
His remarks come after new statistics showed only 68.9% of cancer patients across Scotland were seen within two months. The SNP’s target is for 95% of patients to be seen within the 62-day standard, but this target has not been met since 2012.
In Tayside, only 63% of patients were seen within this timeframe, with one patient waiting 172 days. Meanwhile, the average wait for patients in Tayside was 56 days.
Mr Fraser says these delays ultimately put lives at risk and early diagnosis is crucial to patients’ chances of survival. And he has accused the SNP Government of presiding over a “cancer care crisis” in Tayside and says resources are being squandered on bureaucracy, rather than getting to frontline services.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “These shocking statistics point to a ticking timebomb of cancer cases in Tayside.
“One patient waiting this long (172 days) for cancer treatment is one too many but on the SNP’s watch far too many patients are suffering potentially deadly delays.
“Early diagnosis is crucial to a patient’s chances of survival and my thoughts are with any patient and their families in Tayside who are dealing with these delays. The SNP Government have been missing in action and are presiding over a cancer care crisis in Tayside.”
Mr Fraser continued: “Vital resources are being squandered on backroom bureaucracy and pen-pushing while frontline services in Tayside are completely overwhelmed.
“If patients are to be seen as quickly as possible, then it is time for the SNP Government to guarantee funding will get to where it is needed most in Tayside.”
