Macmillan responds to latest NHS Cancer Waiting Times Data in Scotland

Kate Seymour, Head of Advocacy (Geographies), for Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

“Today’s data shows that far too many people living with cancer are still facing devastating delays in treatment and diagnosis, causing huge amounts of anxiety and throwing lives into chaos. Despite the tireless efforts of NHS staff, people with cancer are being failed by a health care system that is not being given the resources it needs to support them.”

“The Scottish Government must take action to ensure people living with cancer get the care they need before the situation gets any worse. That means bolstering the cancer workforce and investing in equipment to ensure people are diagnosed early, treated quickly and supported through all the impacts cancer can have on their lives.”

If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, we’re here, whatever you need to ask. Call Macmillan’s free support line on 0808 808 00 00, open every day 8am to 8pm.”

Key facts

• Both national cancer waiting times targets in Scotland were missed again in the first three months of 2024, showing that NHS cancer services in Scotland are still struggling under intense pressure[i]
• In January to March 2024, around 400 people with cancer in Scotland waited more than a month to start treatment following the clinical decision to do so, and more than 1,200 waited more than two months to start treatment following their initial urgent referral for suspected cancer[ii]
• Performance against the 62-day target was slightly better than the same time last year, however it still fell to a new second worst on record for at least the past 12 years and has now worsened for three quarters in a row. Performance against the 31-day target was similar to the same time last year, and did not improve from the previous quarter[iii]
• For some cancer types, performance is particularly concerning. For example, from January to March fewer than half (45%) of people with urological cancer started treatment within two months of an urgent referral for suspected cancer and this figure was a new second worst on record. The equivalent figure for melanoma was the worst on record, and the second worst for breast cancer[iv]
• Previous Macmillan analysis showed 2023 was the worst year on record for cancer waiting times in Scotland. In 2023 almost 1,500 people with cancer in Scotland waited more than a month to start treatment following the clinical decision to do so, and just over 5,000 waited more than two months to start treatment following an urgent referral for suspected cancer[v]

[i] Public Health Scotland. Cancer waiting times — 1 January to 31 March 2024. Accessed June 2024

[ii] As per ref 1. In January to March 2024, 401 people waited more than 31 days to start treatment following the clinical decision to do so, and 1,269 waited more than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent referral for suspected cancer

[iii] As per ref 1. ‘Worst on record’ based on published data going back to 2012. In January to March 2024, performance against the 31-day target was 94.1%, the same as in October to December 2023 (94.1%) and very similar to January to March 2023 (94.0%). Performance against the 62-day target was 70.4%, compared with 71.1% in October to December 2023, and 69.5% in January to March 2023 (which is the worst figure on record for this target)

[iv] As per ref 1 and 3

[v] Public Health Scotland. Cancer waiting times — 1 October to 31 December 2023. Accessed March 2024. In 2023, the average annual performance against the national 31-day target was 94.6%, compared with 95.0% in 2022. The average annual performance against the national 62-day target was 71.6%, compared with 74.9% in 2022. A total of 1,499 people waited more than 31 days to start treatment following the clinical decision to do so, and 5,009 waited more than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent referral for suspected cancer. ‘Worst year on record’ based on published data going back to 2012