Scotland has achieved its national 31-day cancer treatment goal, with record-fast waits for patients starting therapy. But the Health Secretary says further action is needed to improve performance against the tougher 62-day standard
Health Secretary Neil Gray has welcomed new data showing that Scotland has met the 31-day cancer treatment standard, while acknowledging that further progress is required to improve performance against the 62-day target for patients urgently referred with suspected cancer.
According to the latest quarterly figures, 95.3% of patients diagnosed with cancer began their first treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat, meeting the national benchmark. The median waiting time was just two days – the joint lowest ever recorded – reflecting ongoing efforts to speed up cancer care and streamline treatment pathways.
Performance against the 62-day standard, which tracks the time between urgent referral and first treatment, stood at 69.9% between April and June 2025. This represents a modest improvement on the previous quarter but remains well below the 95% target.
During the same period, 4,888 referrals were eligible under the 62-day standard – an 11.8% rise on the previous quarter and 31.3% higher than the same timeframe in 2019. Officials said the increase illustrates the growing demand and pressure on cancer services across Scotland.
The Scottish Government said it remains committed to improving cancer outcomes by expanding diagnostic capacity, enhancing referral processes, and supporting NHS staff to deliver timely and effective care.
Commenting on the figures, Neil Gray said: “It is positive that the 31-day standard has been met, with 95.3% of patients starting their cancer treatment within 31 days. The median wait for treatment was two days, which is the joint lowest on record.”
He added that continued efforts will focus on improving consistency in meeting the 62-day target and ensuring patients receive prompt, high-quality care.
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