Waiting times for breast cancer patients have been cut

Andy Kerr was responding to figures which showed that health boards were struggling to reach some targets.

The Scottish Executive has promised that no-one should wait longer than two months for cancer treatment by the end of the year.

However, figures showed the deadline was unlikely to be achieved for some types of cancer.

While waiting times were going down for some cancers, they were increasing for others.

We set a stretching target and have always recognised it will be difficult to meet Andy Kerr Health Minister

The statistics, which covered the period from January to March this year, showed that fewer than half - 47.5% - of people with colorectal cancer were treated within the timescale.

In the previous quarter, the proportion was 57.3%.

Waiting times also increased for ovarian cancer in the final quarter of 2004. A total of 85.7% of cases were treated within the timescale, but the figure went down to 78.9% in the first quarter of this year.

However, breast cancer and lung cancer sufferers saw their waiting times reduced.

A total of 86.3% of breast cancer patients were treated within two months, up by 1.5%,and in the case of lung cancer the figure was 71.8%, up 3.3%.

Mr Kerr said the targets were challenging, but admitted the lack of progress in driving down waiting times was disappointing.

'Annual reviews'

"We set a stretching target, and have always recognised it will be difficult to meet," he said.

Andy Kerr said cancer waiting times must be improved

He said the executive had invested �150m in cancer services since 2001.

"Today's figures show the amount of work boards need to undertake before the end of the year."

Mr said he would be closely monitoring future performance.

"At each of the recent annual reviews I impressed on NHS boards that delivering change and improving cancer waiting times are top priorities," he said.

"NHS boards must take action now and show rapid and demonstrable improvements."

The minister said capacity had been increased for cancer treatment, with 300 additional staff and new equipment.

He added that by the end of 2007, patients will wait no more than nine weeks for MRI or CT scans and other key diagnostic tests.

The minister must now accept that this is not merely an academic argument about numbers Shona Robison SNP

Nanette Milne, Tory health spokeswoman, said: "It is a worrying time for cancer sufferers when Andy Kerr announces the executive is effectively giving up on its targets.

"Cancer is one of the 'big three' killers that the executive has been focusing on, so if it can't make any progress in this area, how will it improve the overall situation in the NHS?"

Shona Robison, the SNP's health spokeswoman, said: "These unacceptable figures clearly expose Andy Kerr's pledge to tackle the problem of waiting times as an empty promise.

"When last quarter's figures for colorectal cancer care were released, we were assured by Mr Kerr that action would be taken to reduce the length of time patients had to wait for treatment. However we now see that, despite his assurances, the situation has deteriorated.