Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 October 2016
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason waiting time targets for treatment for cancer are reportedly not being met in Mid Scotland and Fife.
Cancer waiting times data for quarter 2 (April - June) 2016 published by ISD on 27 September 2016 show 95.7% of cancer patients across Scotland received treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat with the median wait being only six days.
Challenges remain to the 62-day pathway with known capacity pressures for diagnostic scopes and radiological investigations. The Scottish Government continues to support improved performance across NHS Scotland and are actively engaging NHS Boards where there are challenges to sustained delivery against the 62-day standard. This is backed by additional funding of £5 million in 2016-17.
Breakdown of performance by NHS board can be found in the quarterly ISD statistical publications.