| Just over 93% of all reported urgently referred patients diagnosed with cancer between October and December last year were treated within 62 days of their referral.
NHS Fife trails slightly with 92.2%.
All the mainland health boards treated more than 90% of cancer patients within the time frame.
Two areas — the Highland part of Argyll and Clyde health board, and Shetland — achieved 100%.
Apart from Orkney, where there were just two urgent referrals, of whom one was treated within the target time, the worst-performing area was Greater Glasgow, where the figure was 89%.
The latest figures show a national increase in the number of cancer sufferers being treated within the required time — up from 91.6% between July and September 2007.
When broken down locally, the figures show that 98% of patients with breast cancer and 91.7% of ovarian cancer patients in Tayside were treated within 62 days of urgent referral.
Figures for Fife show 96.2% of patients with breast cancer and 100% of ovarian cancer sufferers were treated.
More than 80% of Tayside-based patients with head and neck cancer were treated and over 93% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the area were also seen.
In Fife, 100% of head and neck cancer patients were treated and 92.3% of lung cancer patients were seen.
The quarterly cancer waiting times statistics for January-March 2008 are due to be published in August.
However, initial indications reveal a national 62-day urgent cancer referral-to-treatment figure of 96.3%.
A national treatment target was set in 2005, which required 95% of cancer patients to be treated within 62 days of urgent referral.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said, “The figures show health boards are making good progress towards meeting the 95% target — indeed, the latest management figures show we can expect to meet the target.
“This Scottish Government inherited a long overdue target and I immediately made clear my determination to see health boards improve their performance.”
She continued, “It’s crucial that cancer patients receive the best possible treatment, as quickly as possible, to increase their survival chances.
“That is why we have been driving boards to deliver on their waiting times target, and I am pleased — particularly for cancer patients and their families — that our combined efforts appear to be reaping rewards.” |
