South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has demanded urgent action from the Scottish Government as none of the health boards in the South of Scotland met cancer treatment targets.

Latest Cancer Waiting Times statistics show that for the quarter ending 31 March 2023, no health boards in south Scotland met the Scottish Government standard which states that 95% of eligible patients should wait a maximum of 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment.

NHS Borders showed the best performance in south Scotland at 87 per cent, but this was down from 97 per cent for the same period in 2022.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway was sitting at 81 per cent, Ayrshire and Arran on 80 per cent – both health boards showed a slight improvement compared to last year but fell well short of the target.

Colin Smyth said: “These statistics should be a red alert for the Scottish Government – its own supposedly legally binding targets state that 95% of eligible patients should wait a maximum of 62 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first cancer treatment, and these are being missed across the board.

“Cancer remains Scotland’s biggest killer – but it is clear that thousands of my constituents are waiting an unacceptably long time to be treated. We know what this means – poorer patient outcomes.

“NHS staff are working tirelessly but are being failed by this government and its inadequate cancer plan.

“Health Secretary Michael Matheson has inherited an almighty mess from Humza Yousaf – but we cannot wait any longer to see improvements.”