New figures from ISD Scotland have shown that NHS Lanarkshire successfully met its target of ensuring that 95 per cent of cancer patients receive treatment within 62 days of the first suspicion of cancer being reported.

Between April and June 2014, 95.7 per cent of patients were treated in the targeted time.

The figures also show that 97.6 per cent of patients received treatment within 31 days of the first decision to treat cancer being made.

Commenting, SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said:

“The Scottish Government has set a challenging target of ensuring 95 per cent of cancer patients start treatment within 62 days of the first referral on suspicion of cancer and within 31 days of a decision to treat – and I am delighted that NHS Lanarkshire has managed to meet that target.

“It is testament to the hard work of everyone involved in the treatment of cancer in NHS Lanarkshire and they should all be incredibly proud of their efforts.

“Ensuring treatment for cancer happens as quickly as possible is hugely important which is why the Scottish Government has been so determined to ensure that nobody is left waiting unnecessarily.

“Having achieved their targets this time, I have no doubt that staff in NHS Lanarkshire will keep striving to make further progress and continue to improve on the time cancer patients wait for treatment.”