WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER, 2019

For immediate release.

Improving cancer waiting times for NHS Tayside patients

NHS Tayside is achieving the national waiting times targets for treating cancer patients in an improving picture for performance across the Board.

Most recent figures show that the national 95% target had been exceeded for June and July with 96.6% of cancer patients receiving treatment within 62 days of their referral and 98% of patients being treated within 31 days of their cancer diagnosis.

This improvement in cancer treatment waits has seen Tayside performance move to the best performing mainland Board over the summer.

NHS Tayside also continues to be the best performing mainland Board against the 95% four-hour waiting time target for Emergency Department treatment. NHS Tayside achieved 96.9% of patients being assessed, seen and treated in July compared to the NHS Scotland position of 91.2%.

Patients are also benefiting from the introduction of new services delivering tests and treatment in a different way which means they can be seen quicker.

One example of this is a new one-stop service for Tayside at Perth Royal Infirmary. The service, which opened in June, was redesigned by clinicians as they recognised waiting times were too long and wanted patients to be seen quicker. 150 patients a week are being seen through the one-stop clinic and the new service means there will be around 3000 extra outpatient appointments every year, further reducing waiting times.

Chief Executive Grant Archibald said, “Improving waiting times for the people of Tayside is a Board priority and our clinical teams have been leading the redesign of patient pathways with a focus on ensuring patients can be seen more quickly.

“I am very pleased to see that our plans are now starting to deliver for the people of Tayside. Our frontline staff are working really hard to keep improving services and we will be supporting them to make sure we can keep making a difference to patients and their families across Tayside.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138