A series of statistics shows the NHS has worsened under Ms Freeman's control (Image: GETTY)
Almost a fifth of Scots suspected of having the disease are not seen quickly enough, latest figures show. A leading charity blamed staff shortages and said it showed NHS Scotland was “under immense strain”. Tories said the “abysmal” figures were another blow to Ms Freeman, who replaced Shona Robison one year ago today. They highlighted a blizzard of official statistics showing the state of the NHS has worsened since Ms Freeman took charge. The Government target states that 95 per cent of patients urgently referred with a suspicion of cancer will wait a maximum of 62 days from referral to first cancer treatment. That target has not been met since 2012. The latest NHS figures reveal the target was met for only 81.4 per cent of patients in the first three months of this year.
It was down on the 82.7 percent figure for the previous quarter, and the same as the record low for the three months to September 2018.
A year ago, the treatment rate was 85 percent within 62 days. Only three of Scotland’s 14 NHS boards met the standard, Lanarkshire, Orkney and Shetland.
A separate target for 95 per cent of all patients to receive their first treatment within 31 days of a decision they need medical help was narrowly missed at 94.9 percent.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs pointed to the repeated failure to meet the 12-week treatment law, chronic
