NHS Highland misses cancer treatment target
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NHS Highland has missed a key cancer treatment time target, despite government and health board efforts to improve results.
Figures for the three-month period between April and June show that out of 171 patients suspected of having cancer, 12 were not treated within the 62 day target.
The Scottish Government wants 95 per cent of patients to be treated within 62 days of referral from a hospital specialist.
Tory MSP Mary Scanlon claimed the SNP had "taken their eye of the ball".
She said: "We all know how lethal this disease can be, yet patients are being forced to wait for treatment. The SNP’s chronic mismanagement of the NHS here is Scotland is clear for all to see. This is a Scottish government which has forgotten its priorities and cancer patients are paying the price."
However, Health Secretary Alex Neil insisted that a support team in place since March to help health boards missing cancer waiting times improve their performance, was having an impact.
NHS Highland said it was difficult to recruit specialist staff but the position had improved in the last month following the appointment of two locum oncologists.
A spokeswoman said: "Every patient pathway is managed on a case by case basis and every effort is made to minimise delays. Any breach is studied in detail to understand why it happened and what appropriate action can be taken where possible."
