Cancer cases in Scotland reach record high as waiting times deemed 'unacceptable'

New cases of cancer have reached a record high in Scotland, while a key waiting time target has not been met for well over a decade.

New figures released on Tuesday showed three out of ten people with the disease wait longer than two months after being first referred to start treatment – with Cancer Research UK branding the delay “unacceptable”.

There were 37,202 new cancers diagnosed in 2023, new statistics from Public Health Scotland (PHS) revealed – with 18,769 men and 18,433 women diagnosed with the disease over the course of the year.

This was said to be “in line with a long-term trend of an increasing number of cancer diagnoses over time”, with PHS noting it was “the largest recorded number of new cancers diagnosed in a year in Scotland”.

Meanwhile patients have faced delays in starting cancer treatment, with just 69.9% of patients beginning treatment within the 62-day target window between April and June this year. The NHS standard is 95%.

As a result, around 1,500 patients, or 30.1%, waited longer than two months to begin treatment, marking the third-worst quarterly performance since records began in 2012.

The PHS report noted: “For NHS Scotland overall, the 62-day standard was not met in Q2 2025 and has not been met since Q4 2012.

“The 31-day standard was met in Q2 2025 (95.3%), for the second time in the last eight quarters.”

Only one of Scotland’s 14 NHS boards, NHS Lanarkshire, reached the target in the first four months of this year.

Delays could impact success of treatment, campaigners warn

Health campaigners have long warned that missing the 62-day target can have serious consequences, as delays may reduce patients’ chances of successful treatment.

Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Scotland, Dr Sorcha Hume, described the figures as “unacceptable”, adding waits for diagnosis and treatment cause “real distress” to patients.

“It’s essential we start to see progress on meeting these targets which are missed time and time again,” she said.

“Scotland urgently needs bold leadership, decisive action and enough dedicated funding to deliver on its cancer strategy.

“With the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections, there’s a vital chance to transform the NHS. Investment in staff, equipment and innovation is essential to cutting waiting times and meeting patient needs.”

Kate Seymour, head of external affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support, added:  “Although we have seen some slight improvements compared to the start of the year, the latest quarterly cancer waiting times data still shows that almost 1,500 people with cancer in Scotland waited too long to start their treatment in April to June.

“This is sadly a familiar picture – far too many people with cancer are still waiting far too long for their diagnosis and treatment.

“Behind these figures are real people facing agonising waits for diagnosis and treatment, and they deserve better.

“The Scottish Government must take action to ensure people living with cancer get the care they need before the situation gets any worse.”

‘Terrifying delays and needless deaths’

Scottish Tory shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the NHS in Scotland is “dying before our eyes.”

He said: “These atrocious statistics confirm Scotland is facing a ticking timebomb of cancer cases on the SNP’s watch.

“Everyone knows early treatment saves lives – yet in the last quarter only one health board hit the SNP’s own 62-day target.

“Three in ten Scots are waiting too long to start treatment. This is terrifying for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones.

“Staff are working flat out, but lives are being put at risk because of the SNP’s failure to cut waiting times. They still don’t have a plan to tackle Scotland’s cancer crisis.

“Neil Gray can’t just bury his head in the sand and hope this problem goes away. He must act now – by cutting bureaucracy, reducing middle management, and accelerating the rollout of early cancer diagnostic centres.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said patients in Scotland “deserve better”.

He said: “SNP ministers have never once met the cancer waiting times target in the 13 years since it was introduced. Cancer patients deserve better than to be put on hold for life-saving treatment.

“More cancers are being diagnosed than ever before, but SNP ministers have failed at every juncture to meet the scale of the challenge.”

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “Swift treatment can mean the difference between life and death for cancer patients, but it’s clear too many Scots are being failed in their hour of need.

“Scotland is facing a cancer timebomb with the number of cases at a record high, but under the SNP treatment is still not up to standard.

“We know the poorest communities are being hit hardest by the SNP’s failures on cancer care, even if the government refuses to publish the data.

“The founding principles of our NHS are under threat by this incompetent SNP government – we cannot risk a third decade of failure.”

Health secretary Neil Gray said it was “positive” that figures showing the 31-day cancer treatment standard had been met but acknowledged delays to the two-month figures,

Gray said: “We’re treating more patients with cancer on time within both the 31-day and 62-day standards, compared to pre-pandemic and ten years ago.

“However, continued diagnostic pressure and an increase in referrals is affecting 62-day performance. We recognise that we must do more to ensure more patients are treated within the 62-day standard.

“I am determined to drive further improvements and have directed £14.23m of the £110m in additional planned care funding for 2025/26 to cancer waiting times, with a focus on colorectal, urological and breast as our most challenged pathways.”