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Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway cancer patient waited nearly a year to start treatment
The length of the longest NHS Dumfries and Galloway wait for treatment to start has more than tripled in the past decade. A cancer patient in Dumfries and Galloway waited nearly a year to start treatment. And the length of the longest wait for treatment to start has more than tripled in the past decade. But the figures from NHS Dumfries and Galloway has one of the best rates for patients with an urgent suspicion of cancer starting treatment within 62 days, with the region performing above the Scottish average. The situation was outlined by the Scottish Liberal Democrats following analysis of data from Public Health Scotland. Party leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton, said: 'All across Scotland, the SNP government isn't giving cancer patients the best chance of survival.' The fact that SNP ministers are now admitting that their failures may have caused people to die shows just how badly they have got this wrong. 'Access to screening programmes, diagnoses and treatment is a postcode lottery across the country. 'Patients deserve better than an SNP government that keeps letting them down. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats will bring a real vision and a real plan for delivering the care they need.' The Scottish Government has a target that 95 per cent of patients with an urgennt suspicion of cancer referral should receive their first treatment within 62 days. In the first three months of the year, that target was met for just 68.9 per cent of patients in Scotland – the lowest in the last decade. In NHS Dumfries and Galloway, the rate was 75 per cent – the second best among Scotland's health boards. There is also a target that 95 per cent of patients should start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis. That target was met for 99 per cent of patients in NHS Dumfries and Galloway and 94.1 per cent across Scotland. But the figures also show that one patient in Dumfries and Galloway waited 347 days – more than 11 months – for their treatment to begin. And analysis by the Lib Dems shows that is more than triple the longest wait of 99 days from the first three months of 2015. A healthboard spokesman said: 'NHS Dumfries and Galloway continually works to ensure patients receive diagnosis and any necessary treatment as promptly as possible, in line with national targets and in a way that best supports their individual needs. 'We are part of a wider national cancer treatment pathway, which requires close coordination across services and use of national specialist capacity. 'This means that, at times, the timing of treatment may be influenced by factors beyond the direct control of any single health board. 'Each patient's care is planned according to their clinical circumstances, in full consultation with them and their care team. 'In some cases, treatment may be delayed for valid reasons – such as the need to treat other urgent health issues, adopt a 'watchful waiting' approach, or accommodate a patient's informed decision to delay or decline treatment. 'We recognise the understandable anxiety any delay can cause for those awaiting diagnosis or treatment. Our priority remains to provide safe, timely, and effective care, based on the best available clinical evidence and within the resources available.' Health Secretary, Neil Gray, said: 'We know that some people are still waiting too long to begin their cancer treatment, and that is not acceptable. We are determined to improve waiting times and ensure everyone gets the timely care they deserve. 'We are treating more patients with cancer on time, within both standards, compared to the same quarter six years ago – 7.7 per cent more within the 31-day standard and 0.1 per cent more within the 62-day standard. 'We have directed £14.23 million of the £106 million 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.'
Scotsman
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish railway stations with highest proportion of cancelled services revealed
The Scottish Liberal Democrats criticised SNP ministers over the figures Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Figures have revealed the railway stations in Scotland with the highest proportion of cancelled services. Helensburgh Central, Craigendoran and Cardross top the list, with more than one in 20 services cancelled in the last financial year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They are followed by Caldercruix (5.7 per cent of services cancelled), Blackridge (5.7 per cent), Armadale (5.7 per cent), Dumbarton East (5.6 per cent), Dalreoch (5.6 per cent), Drumgelloch (5.6 per cent) and Uphall (5.4 per cent). A ScotRail train | PA The Scottish Liberal Democrats, who highlighted the publicly available statistics, accused SNP minister of providing a 'masterclass in how to make public transport as unattractive as possible'. The party's Jamie Greene, who represents the West Scotland region, said: 'Passengers are shelling out huge sums of money to travel by train, only to find that some services simply don't arrive. For people here in the west of Scotland, that's a source of endless frustration. 'It's more than three years since the SNP government took over responsibility for Scotland's trains. In that time, they have clobbered passengers with ticket hikes and done next to nothing to minimise disruption or overcrowding.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nationally, the worst month for rail service delays was October 2024, with just 45 per cent of services arriving within 59 seconds of their scheduled arrival time and 84 per cent arriving within four minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled arrival time. Mark Ilderton, ScotRail's service delivery director, said it operates more than 2,100 services every day, with around nine out of ten of those meeting the punctuality target. He added: 'Cancellations can be for a number of reasons, many of them outside the control of ScotRail, but represented less than 3 per cent of more than 650,000 services we operate across the country over the course of the year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We know how frustrating it is when a service is cancelled or delayed, and that is why everyone at ScotRail is working hard to deliver the safe and reliable railway that our customers expect and deserve, and to encourage more people to travel by train instead of using the car. 'With more than nine out of ten customers satisfied with our service according to Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, it's testament to the hard work of ScotRail staff in delivering a safe, reliable, and green railway.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The cancellations for October-November 2024 represented 3.2 per cent of all ScotRail services. 'Train performance and passenger satisfaction in Scotland is consistently higher than the GB average – but we will keep making improvements, so more people choose to travel by rail. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'While our ability to invest and improve services is impacted by ongoing UK Government spending decisions, we have invested over £12 billion in rail infrastructure in Scotland since 2007 with a further £1.5 billion investment planned for this financial year. 'Fare increases are lower than elsewhere in the UK, and we're permanently removing ScotRail peak fares from 1 September 2025. This move will help people with ongoing cost of living pressures, eradicate child poverty and tackle the climate emergency by saving existing rail passengers money, including parents, and encouraging new, potential passengers onto the train and to leave the car at home.
STV News
09-07-2025
- Health
- STV News
Lib Dems urge Gray to apologise over cancer figures ‘spin'
The Health Secretary has been urged to apologise to patients after being accused of 'spin' over cancer waiting figures. The Scottish Liberal Democrats made the call after Neil Gray's response to statistics that showed 68.9% of cancer patients were seen within the 62-day treatment standard in the first three months of this year – the worst performance since records began. Mr Gray had pointed to the average waiting times, saying 'the median wait time from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to treatment is 52 days, demonstrating the extensive work by staff across Scotland to treat people are quickly and effectively as possible'. But the Scottish Liberal Democrats said that analysis by the party found that the 52-day wait itself was the worst on record. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'The SNP are fast running out of excuses. 'The Health Secretary held up the median wait of 52 days for these cancer patients, as though that shows some kind of progress, when in fact it is nothing to celebrate because that too is the worst on record. 'It has been exposed as political spin. He ought to apologise to patients. 'Catching cancer early, then treating it fast, makes the world of difference to your chances of survival. 'However, it's been two years since the Scottish Government published its latest cancer strategy promising 'earlier treatment', but patients are waiting longer. 'There isn't a moment to lose when it comes to sorting out the critical gaps in screening, diagnosis and treatment, including tech and staff. 'If cancer comes for you, you deserve to be given the best chance of survival, and under this SNP Government that's just not happening. 'Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats will bring a real vision and a real plan for delivering the care they need.' Last month, data from Public Health Scotland (PHS) showed 68.9% of Scots referred to the NHS with an urgent suspicion of cancer referred between January and March started treatment within 62 days, compared to 73.5% the previous quarter and 70.5% in the quarter ending in March 2024. The figure remains well below pre-pandemic levels, with 83.7% of people having been seen within the 62-day target in the quarter ending December 2019. The 62-day standard has not been met since the last quarter of 2012. The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Edinburgh Reporter
17-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Scotland 2050 – First Minister to address conference in Edinburgh
At the Scotland 2050 conference on Tuesday First Minister, John Swinney, will outline his vision for an independent Scotland. Addressing a mixed audience of public, private and third sector, academia and politicians, the First Minister is expected to say: 'It is only by taking charge of our own destiny, with our own hand on the tiller, that we are better able to ride the waves of change, that we are better able to shape our own future. 'I have long believed that Scotland is an afterthought to successive UK governments. Scotland is not on Westminster's radar in the same way, say, as London, the Midlands or the Southeast. 'It holds us back in ways big and small, leaving us waiting and praying, hoping that decisions taken at Westminster are not too damaging. 'We are prey to a broken system and a failing economic model – a system that delivers for a very few at the very top, while living standards stagnate and real wages are squeezed for the vast majority. 'All this when we have the capacity to stand and flourish on our own two feet. 'Independence is the defining choice for this generation, have no doubt. Because the UK status quo has proved itself incapable of delivering on the hopes and ambitions of the people of Scotland. That is why, like a clear majority of Scots, I believe that our nation should have the right to choose. 'A Scotland that is modern, dynamic and forward-looking, living in anticipation of what more can be done, what else can be achieved. Moving forward as one, moving forward with hope and self-belief. 'Such a Scotland is within reach, I have no doubt. But if we want it, we have to work for it, we have to vote for it, we have to actively, purposefully, and I hope also joyfully, make it happen.' The First Minister will be accompanied by the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes who is also Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic. Other political leaders including the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats will also attend as well as Cherie Blair, KC, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. The conference aims to 'foster an ambitious and forward-thinking atmosphere, allowing participants to dream big and set out challenging and credible paths towards the future of Scotland. 'By bringing together leading thinkers from civil society, industry, academia, and policy, Scotland 2050 will provide a space for creative and informed debate on the big ideas of today and the road to tomorrow.' The conference is sold out and will take place at Assembly Rooms. © 2025 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
Glasgow Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
More than 17,000 ScotRail trains cancelled last year
The data, released after a request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, found 17,491 services were cancelled in 2024/25. Some 306,120 trains did not arrive within a minute of their scheduled arrival time, which the party said accounted for 45% of all trains. Another 71,691 were late by five or more minutes – around 10% of all trains. READ MORE: ScotRail commuters issued warning amid ongoing issue Jamie Greene, the Lib Dem transport spokesman at Holyrood, said the Scottish Government must deliver a transport system that works for all of Scotland. He said: 'When it is done right, train travel is swift, reliable and reduces traffic on our roads. 'Unfortunately, these figures show that a considerable number of passengers are shelling out huge sums of money to travel by train, only to find that some services simply don't arrive. 'It's more than three years since the SNP Government took over responsibility for Scotland's trains, but we are still seeing tens of thousands of trains cancelled or running late. 'If we want to coax people out of their cars, that has to start with a service that runs on time.' Mr Greene urged the Government to work with ScotRail to drive down train delays. He added: 'We also want to see Government working with councils to explore new lines, especially in areas where public transport links are poor, and new options for two/three-day-a-week season tickets. 'That's how to make Scotland's railways an attractive prospect for tourists and commuters alike.' READ MORE: More than 30 roads to close in Glasgow city centre for huge event tomorrow Mark Ilderton, ScotRail's service delivery director, said: 'ScotRail operates more than 2,100 services every day, with around nine out of 10 of those services meeting the punctuality target, getting customers to where they need to be. 'Cancellations can be for a number of reasons, many of them outside the control of ScotRail, but represented less than 3% of more than 650,000 services we operate across the country over the course of the year. 'We know how frustrating it is when a service is cancelled or delayed, and that is why everyone at ScotRail is working hard to deliver the safe and reliable railway that our customers expect and deserve, and to encourage more people to travel by train instead of using the car. 'With more than nine out of 10 customers satisfied with our service, according to Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, it's a testament to the hard work of ScotRail staff in delivering a safe, reliable and green railway.' READ MORE: Glasgow Summer Sessions issue travel advice ahead of huge gigs A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'These cancellations for the period reported represent 2.1% of all ScotRail services. 'Train performance and passenger satisfaction in Scotland is consistently higher than the GB average – but we will keep making improvements so more people choose to travel by rail. 'While our ability to invest and improve services is impacted by ongoing UK Government spending decisions, we have invested over £12 billion in rail infrastructure in Scotland since 2007, with a further £1.5 billion investment planned for this financial year. 'Fare increases are lower than elsewhere in the UK, and we're permanently removing ScotRail peak fares from 1 September 2025. 'This move will help people with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, eradicate child poverty and tackle the climate emergency by saving existing rail passengers money, including parents, and encouraging new, potential passengers onto the train and to leave the car at home. 'The Scottish Government believes fundamentally that a fully devolved and integrated railway, publicly controlled and operated in the service of the people of Scotland and truly accountable to them, will deliver better and more efficient services for our people and our communities. 'We will keep pressing for full devolution of all the powers over rail infrastructure and to have full powers to nationalise Scotland's railway.'
