John Swinney is set to face questions about cancer waiting times hitting the worst level on record.
A report from Public Health Scotland on Tuesday revealed that waiting times in Scotland are at an all-time high, with nearly a third of patients with an urgent suspicion of cancer waiting longer than 62 days to start treatment.
Only 69% of patients started treatment within the 62-day national target in the first three months of 2025, compared with 74% in the previous quarter and 84% at the end of 2019.
One of Swinney’s ministers later admitted that people may be dying as a result of later cancer diagnoses.
Public health minister Jenni Minto said the situation is “not where we should be” and admitted that the Scottish Government could do more, while speaking to STV News.
The figures are expected to be raised at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, and Swinney will likely be forced to defend his SNP Government’s record on health care.
It’s also the last chance for opposition leaders to question Swinney before the Scottish Parliament breaks for summer recess.
FMQs will be streamed from Holyrood at noon on Thursday.
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