Cole-Hamilton challenges Health Secretary to tackle cancer crisis

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the Health Secretary, Neil Gray, to wake up to the crisis in our NHS, as figures published today show poor cancer waiting times performance against the 62-day referral to treatment standard.

New Public Health Scotland figures reveal that only 73.2% of patients were seen within the 62-day standard. They also showed that the standard was not met by any of the NHS Health Boards. 83.7% of patients were seen within the 62-day standard in the quarter ending 31 December 2019.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"There can be few more challenging and frightening moments than being told you have been diagnosed with cancer. Everyone diagnosed with cancer should be able to access treatment quickly and effectively, but right now far too many are being forced to wait day after day for the help they need.  

“Early intervention in cancer cases is crucial to chances of survival so the stakes here simply could not be higher – it’s a matter of life and death.  

“The Health Secretary needs to wake up to the crisis in our NHS. He may be content to bury his head in the sand but that is not good enough for the thousands of patients being failed by this government’s mismanagement of our health service.

“Under my leadership, I am determined that Scottish Liberal Democrats will be the champions for swift, local healthcare wherever in Scotland you live.”