Scotland’s poorest people are 74 per cent more likely to die from cancer than the better off, a damning report has shown. Figures published yesterday by Public Health Scotland showed the huge inequality in deaths from the disease over the last decade.
The country’s most deprived areas had incidence rates that were 33 per cent higher than the least deprived areas, with mortality rates identified as 74 per cent higher for those with increased deprivation over the period 2012-2021.
Cancer remains the main cause of death in Scotland, with 16,438 deaths caused by the disease in 2021. Last night the figures were branded a “national scandal” by Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie.
She added: “Scotland’s stark health inequalities are costing lives every year but progress closing this gulf is shamefully slow despite the tireless efforts of NHS staff.”
The figures revealed the overall risk of dying from the illness has decreased over a 10-year period, though the number of deaths has risen. This could be due to the fact that Scotland has an ageing population, with cancer being more common among older people, Public Health Scotland said.
A Scottish Government spokesman stated: “It is encouraging to see that the data shows the overall risk of dying from cancer in Scotland fell by 11 per cent. We continue to focus on tackling disparities in deprived areas by ensuring equitable access to cancer services through the actions in our National Cancer Plan, backed by up to £114.5million investment.
“We are developing a new 10-year cancer strategy to launch in spring 2023, which will take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care.”
Meanwhile, a separate report on detecting cancer early revealed the toll lockdown has taken on early diagnosis of breast cancer, with more women being diagnosed with late-stage cancer following the pausing of the screening programme.
In 2018-19 just 11.6 per cent of diagnoses were late stage cancers but that increased to 13.6 per cent last year.
Scottish Tory health spokesman, Sandesh Gulhane, said: “These figures should be a source of shame for SNP ministers.”
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