Under cash strapped NHS Grampian, only 79.7% of cancer patients received treatment within the Scottish Government’s 62 day deadline, during the third quarter of 2019.

North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles said: “This is not just a one off, week after week the figures show that healthcare standards in the North East are under threat and Scottish Government ministers still refuse to lift a finger to rectify the situation.

“Whether it is sheer incompetence or a lack of political will, Scottish Government underfunding has put our local healthcare services under immense pressure and it is the patients and hardworking staff that are paying the price.

“This is about people’s lives. The figures published today show that cancer targets will be missed for hundreds of people every year under NHS Grampian. That is why I have repeatedly asked the Cabinet Secretary to take action to put our local health services on an equal footing with the rest of the country.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• See the full ISD publication here: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Publications/2019-12-17/2019-12-17-CWT-Report.pdf?

• Funding data provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe):

NHS Grampian allocation compared with NRAC target allocation

The total distance from parity over the whole period shown is £239.2m.