Cancer waits cut in Lanarkshire

A troubleshooting team was sent to improve the area's performance

Waiting times for cancer patients in Lanarkshire have dramatically improved in the last year, according to new Scottish Government statistics.

Between April and June, over 93% of urgent cancer patients received treatment within 62 days compared with just 75% for the same period in 2007.

Last year the health secretary sent a "troubleshooting" team to the area to help reduce waiting times.

Now other boards are being encouraged to learn from NHS Lanarkshire.

A target set in 2000 requires that 95% of cancer patients be treated within 62 days of urgent referral.

The latest figures showed an average of 93.5% across Scotland.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We're almost there but improvements still need to be made to ensure the target is being met in full in every board across Scotland.

"Boards can significantly improve their performance just as NHS Lothian and NHS Lanarkshire have been able to demonstrate over the last year - by 10 and 18 percentage points respectively. "

By involving medical and nursing staff in the redesign of cancer services we were able to identify areas for improvement and investment Rosemary Lyness NHS Lanarkshire

A cancer performance support team was sent to Lanarkshire by Ms Sturgeon in May last year to help the health board there identify how services could be improved and which areas should be targeted.

Rosemary Lyness, director of Acute Services for NHS Lanarkshire, said: "We developed a robust action plan which was not only about improving waiting times but also improving the patient experience by ensuring patients felt supported throughout their diagnosis and treatment.

"By involving medical and nursing staff in the redesign of cancer services we were able to identify areas for improvement and investment which would have a real impact on the quality of care we provided for our patients."

She added: "Work is ongoing to make sure we meet national guarantees across all tumour types and can further reduce the time between urgent referral and treatment."

The cancer performance support team left Lanarkshire last December.

NHS Lanarkshire said its work on cancer waiting times is now being used as an example of good practice for other health boards across Scotland.