'Ticking timebomb': Scottish cancer care targets missed for 13 years in a row
Swinney says he is ‘proud’ of progress he and his government have made despite failings
Cancer waiting times must be a “serious call to action” for the next Scottish Government, as new figures show targets have been missed for 13 years in a row.
The latest figures from Public Health Scotland show no Scottish health board met the 62-day waiting time target for cancer care in 2025. Throughout the year, only 72.6 per cent of patients started cancer treatment within 62 days.
The last time this target was met was in 2012.
On top of this, 23,415 people had been waiting over a year for an outpatient appointment and 2,159 had been waiting over two years by the end of February 2026.
The statistics show 20,825 people had been waiting over a year for an inpatient or day case appointment by the end of February 2026 and 3,132 had been waiting for over two years.
This is despite the SNP promising to abolish waits of over 12 months by March 2026.
Things are not faring much better in A&E departments, where only 61.1 per cent of patients were seen, treated and discharged within four hours. This is down from the 64.9 per cent weekly average in 2025 and significantly below the 95 per cent target.
Despite this, First Minister John Swinney says he is “proud” of the progress he and his government have made.
Speaking to journalists during a campaign visit in Dundee, Mr Swinney said: “What we’ve got is real, tangible progress in improving the NHS.
“When I set out a plan shortly after I became First Minister to reduce long waits, I thought that was the central issue and we have to address it to make sure people get treatment timeously.
“We’re now seeing nine months in a row of that plan working and very significant reductions in long waits.
“There’s more to be done, which is why an SNP government with focus intently on improving the NHS is necessary.”
When asked if he was proud of the NHS waiting times, he said: “Well, I’m proud of the progress that we’re making.
“I think we’ve got further improvements to make - that’s why people need to vote SNP, so they have a government that’s focused on ensuring these issues are addressed.”
Macmillan Cancer Support have now said whoever forms the next Scottish Government needs to tackle the issue head on as “Scotland deserves better from their cancer strategy”.
Peter Hastie, the charity’s external affairs manager, said: “Three years ago, within its 10-year cancer strategy, the Scottish Government expressed the clear need for faster diagnosis and treatment.
“Today we’ve seen that the 62-day cancer waiting time target has once again been missed. That’s 13 years in a row.
“This is exactly why Macmillan is calling for bolder and faster delivery of the promises Holyrood made to overhaul the system.
“With elections five weeks away, it’s vital the next Scottish Government treat these unacceptable figures as a serious call to action. The people of Scotland deserve better from their cancer strategy."
The waiting time statistics have also been slammed by opposition parties who show there is a “ticking timebomb” in Scotland when it comes to cancer care, and say it shows the SNP cannot be trusted to run the NHS effectively.
Dame Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, said: “Quick treatment saves lives but this dangerously incompetent SNP government hasn’t met its cancer treatment target for 13 years.
“Dedicated NHS staff are working tirelessly to give patients the care they need, but they too are being let down by the SNP.
“John Swinney and the SNP should be ashamed of their record, but instead they are totally complacent.
“It is an insult to the Scots waiting too long for lifesaving cancer care for John Swinney to pretend this government’s NHS plan is working.
“The truth is if the SNP was capable of improving things they would have done it by now.”
Dr Sandesh Gulhane, the Scottish Conservatives’ health spokesman, said: “These heartbreaking delays lay bare the human cost of the SNP’s failure to get a grip on Scotland’s cancer crisis.
“Behind these statistics is someone who spent months living in fear, waiting too long to start treatment they desperately needed.
“Every missed target is a reminder of why we need to get rid of the SNP at the Holyrood election. The SNP cannot be trusted to cut treatment waiting times and if they get a majority in May their focus will be on independence, not the ticking timebomb on cancer care.”
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