Professor John Robertson OBA

From Public Health Scotland – Cancer waiting times 1 April to 30 June 2025 published yesterday:

There were 4,888 eligible referrals, an increase of 11.8% from the previous quarter, and an increase of 31.3% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019.

69.9% of patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 68.9% in the previous quarter.

95.3% of patients started treatment within 31 days, compared with 94.1% in the previous quarter, and 96.5% in the quarter ending 31 December 2019. There were 7,461 eligible referrals, an increase of 9.8% from the previous quarter, and an increase of 16.8% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019.

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancer-waiting-times/cancer-waiting-times-1-april-to-30-june-2025/

The equivalent figures, for NHS England are 69.2% and 92.4%: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

The 2.9% difference in the 31 days performance means that 216 cancer patients in Scotland were treated on time who would not have been, had they lived in England and around 2 600 were not treated on time in England due to worse performance there.

Talking-up Scotland's special crowd funder has closed but you can support at any time at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method - Bernadette/John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421