NHS hits national cancer target

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A key national target for the NHS to treat urgent cancer patients within two months has been met, the Scottish Government has announced.

An average of 95.4% of urgently referred patients began treatment within two months - just beating the target average of 95%.

It is the first time the target - set in 2001 and due to be achieved by 2005 - has been met.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said it was a "significant achievement".

According to official figures, between October and December last year there were 2,368 urgent referrals - and of those, 2,258 began their treatment within the target time of 62 days.

Speaking on the figures from Dundee, Ms Sturgeon said: "We must continue to strive for further improvement within specific NHS boards - and cancer types - and to ensure this achievement is sustained for the future."

Although the target was met across Scotland as a whole, health boards in Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Tayside and the Western Isles all treated fewer than 95% of patients within 62 days.

And the target average was not met for all types of cancer, including colorectal cancers, lymphoma and melanoma.