Treatment waiting times have worsened for bowel cancer patients

New health service figures reveal that a quarter of cancer patients were not referred within that time between October and December 2005.

Delays have also worsened for some types of cancer, including bowel, skin and stomach cancers.

Health Minister Andy Kerr has ordered the appointment of "service improvement managers" to try to tackle the problem.

A Scottish Executive target stipulated that from the beginning of 2006, the maximum waiting time between urgent referral and treatment should be two months.

I'd like to think the health minister had a bit more to offer than sympathetic rhetoric Dr Nanette Milne Conservative MSP

However the latest statistics have shown that across Scotland, only 74% of cases met that deadline, compared with 75% during the previous three months.

For some types of cancer, fewer than 70% of cases fell within the target.

Figures for the first quarter of 2006, the first period to which the targets apply, are likely to fall short of their objectives.

Mr Kerr admitted the latest figures were "not good enough".

He said: "Personally, I find that very frustrating and I know how distressing it is for those people who have to wait longer than they should for treatment.

"It is a credit to the NHS in Scotland that we are continuing to increase cancer survival across the board.

No type of cancer was treated within the deadline

"However, it is still taking too long for the extra investment that we promised, and have delivered, to translate into real benefits for patients in this area."

Despite increased numbers of doctors and better equipment, more targeted action was needed.

This included the appointment of three "service improvement managers" to help deliver improvements in waiting times.

The latest figures showed that no type of cancer was treated within the deadline.

The nearest was ovarian cancer, where 92% of cases were treated within two months, the same as the previous quarter.

'Let down'

For breast cancer, the number of patients treated by the target time rose from 81% to 84%.

More patients suffering from lung cancer and lymphoma were also treated within two months.

Shona Robison, the SNP's health spokeswoman, said cancer patients were being let down by the Scottish Executive.

"While it's right that the health minister apologised, the most important thing is that he fixes the problem."

The Conservatives' health spokeswoman Dr Nanette Milne said: "Andy Kerr says he is frustrated, but seeing as he's the one in control of the health service in Scotland, I'd like to think he had a bit more to offer than sympathetic rhetoric.