Local health services are bucking national trends for cancer waiting times, new figures have revealed.
Half of the country’s NHS boards failed to hit the standard for getting at least 95% of patients with a suspicion of cancer to their first treatment within 62 days.
Both Tayside and Forth Valley achieved this, hitting 96.4% and 95.1% respectively, although Fife fell short with a ratio of 93.2%.
NHS Grampian scored lowest with 89.5% and Orkney was the only board to hit 100%, according to the latest official statistics covering July to September.
The national average was slightly below the target at 94.5%.
All 14 boards passed a second target to ensure 95% of all patients, regardless of route of referral, wait a maximum 31 days from decision to treat to their first treatment.
In this case, the national average was 98.1%, up slightly on the previous figures.
All local health boards were below the national average, with NHS Tayside scoring 96.7%, Fife 95.7% and Forth Valley 95.8%.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume called on Health Secretary Alex Neil to “take immediate steps to stop the worsening crisis in cancer treatment times”.
He said: “It is a grave reflection of the state of our health boards that half of health boards have missed the national cancer treatment target.
“There has been barely a jot of improvement this year. This will be upsetting for patients and their families, already coping with the stress of a loved one being diagnosed with cancer.
“Sixty-two days alone must feel like decades, which is why the health secretary must get a grip of this unacceptable situation.”
Scottish Labour health spokesman Neil Findlay said: “Half of Scottish health boards are still missing the 62-day cancer waiting time target. That’s hundreds of Scots across the country left with an agonising wait to begin treatment.”
Mr Neil said: “We understand that having to wait for tests or to begin cancer treatment can be frightening and at the very least frustrating.
“That is why we continue to scrutinise performance across NHS Scotland and request action plans from NHS boards where performance against the cancer waiting times standard has not been maintained.
“When it comes to cancer, we are determined to take all the necessary action to improve earlier diagnosis, advance the treatments available to patients and invest in staff and equipment.”