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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Cancer waiting times 'best yet' | Cancer waiting times 'best yet' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The NHS is getting closer to meeting a target of treating all urgent cancer cases within two months, according to new figures. | The NHS is getting closer to meeting a target of treating all urgent cancer cases within two months, according to new figures. |
| The target, set in 2000, requires that 95% of patients begin treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred. | The target, set in 2000, requires that 95% of patients begin treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred. |
| In the three months to September last year 94.6% of patients were treated within the 62 days limit. | In the three months to September last year 94.6% of patients were treated within the 62 days limit. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said it was the health service's best performance yet. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said it was the health service's best performance yet. |
| However, the 95% target was supposed to have been met three years ago in 2005. | However, the 95% target was supposed to have been met three years ago in 2005. |
| Nine out of the 14 NHS boards across Scotland met the target between July and September 2008. | Nine out of the 14 NHS boards across Scotland met the target between July and September 2008. |
| NHS Lothian recorded the best results with 98.1% of patients beginning treatment within the two months target period. HEALTH BOARD WAITING TIMES Ayrshire and Arran - 95.1%Borders - 95.6%Dumfries and Galloway - 84.1%Fife - 95.6%Forth Valley - 96.2%Grampian - 93.1%Greater Glasgow - 93.2%Highland - 95%Lanarkshire - 94.1%Lothian - 98.1%Orkney - 50%Shetland - 100%Tayside - 95.3%Western Isles - 100% | NHS Lothian recorded the best results with 98.1% of patients beginning treatment within the two months target period. HEALTH BOARD WAITING TIMES Ayrshire and Arran - 95.1%Borders - 95.6%Dumfries and Galloway - 84.1%Fife - 95.6%Forth Valley - 96.2%Grampian - 93.1%Greater Glasgow - 93.2%Highland - 95%Lanarkshire - 94.1%Lothian - 98.1%Orkney - 50%Shetland - 100%Tayside - 95.3%Western Isles - 100% |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "It is very welcome to see that the majority of patients diagnosed with cancer, who were urgently referred, are rightly starting their treatment within two months. | Ms Sturgeon said: "It is very welcome to see that the majority of patients diagnosed with cancer, who were urgently referred, are rightly starting their treatment within two months. |
| "We know how important it is for cancer patients, and for their families, to be treated quickly. | "We know how important it is for cancer patients, and for their families, to be treated quickly. |
| "Boards are tackling the challenge head on and their efforts, supported by Scottish Government's cancer performance support team, have resulted in, substantial progress since 2007. | "Boards are tackling the challenge head on and their efforts, supported by Scottish Government's cancer performance support team, have resulted in, substantial progress since 2007. |
| "In many areas, boards are performing over and above the 95% target and I am hopeful that the advances made to meet the target for breast, lung, ovarian and urology cancers will be extended to all cancers before long. | "In many areas, boards are performing over and above the 95% target and I am hopeful that the advances made to meet the target for breast, lung, ovarian and urology cancers will be extended to all cancers before long. |
| She added: "The target needs to be met consistently, in full, in every board across Scotland. | She added: "The target needs to be met consistently, in full, in every board across Scotland. |
| "Ensuring that the majority of cancer patients are treated within 62 days of referral is crucial to speeding up the time taken in delivering care and treatment to patients, an essential ambition of Scotland's action plan, Better Cancer Care." | "Ensuring that the majority of cancer patients are treated within 62 days of referral is crucial to speeding up the time taken in delivering care and treatment to patients, an essential ambition of Scotland's action plan, Better Cancer Care." |
| Of the five boards which failed to meet the target, Dumfries and Galloway fared worst, with just 84.1% of patients being treated within 62 days. | |
| A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway described the figures as "disappointing". | |
| He added: "Our clinical teams are committed to ensuring that patients are treated within the national waiting times targets. | |
| "We continue to review the patient pathways and increasing complexity in delivering cancer treatments. | |
| Tougher target | Tougher target |
| Labour health spokeswoman Cathy Jamieson said: "Whilst this improved figure is to be welcomed it is deeply disappointing that the NHS is still failing to hit cancer treatment waiting time targets. | Labour health spokeswoman Cathy Jamieson said: "Whilst this improved figure is to be welcomed it is deeply disappointing that the NHS is still failing to hit cancer treatment waiting time targets. |
| "There can be no room for complacency with cancer and I am worried that the poor funding settlement to health boards will continue to put these targets under pressure." | "There can be no room for complacency with cancer and I am worried that the poor funding settlement to health boards will continue to put these targets under pressure." |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "Whilst I welcome the improvement in cancer waiting times announced today, I agree with the health secretary that targets need to be met consistently and in full by every health board. | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "Whilst I welcome the improvement in cancer waiting times announced today, I agree with the health secretary that targets need to be met consistently and in full by every health board. |
| "Ministers must ensure that this is achieved. Otherwise, the waiting time targets will have the unintended consequence of creating a postcode lottery for those seeking cancer treatment in Scotland." | "Ministers must ensure that this is achieved. Otherwise, the waiting time targets will have the unintended consequence of creating a postcode lottery for those seeking cancer treatment in Scotland." |
| The Scottish Government has announced a new tougher cancer waiting times target. | The Scottish Government has announced a new tougher cancer waiting times target. |
| By 2011 all patients diagnosed with cancer, however they come to be referred, should receive treatment within 31 days from the decision to treat. | By 2011 all patients diagnosed with cancer, however they come to be referred, should receive treatment within 31 days from the decision to treat. |