THE target for cancer patients in Scotland to receive treatment within 62 days of referral has been missed again, Scottish Labour has warned.

New statistics from Information Services Delivery Scotland show that 83.3 per cent of patients were treated in 62 days in the last quarter — much below the 95 per cent target.

The data also shows that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Lothian, Scotland’s two largest health boards, are under huge pressure, with only 80 per cent and 78.7 per cent of cancer patients being treated within that target.

These poor performances follow a Holyrood committee report that found that staff shortages were having an impact on cancer diagnosis rates.

Scottish Labour shadow health secretary Monica Lennon said: “Early detection and treatment is crucial to chances of survival, and it’s really concerning that the treatment waiting-time target continues to be missed.

“It isn’t good enough, and the Health Secretary [Jeane Freeman] must set out in detail how she will urgently increase capacity in cancer detection and treatment to deliver the care that people need.”