The latest horrifying figures for cancer waiting times show that our country’s NHS is broken. The official target is for 95 per cent of patients to start receiving treatment within 62 days if they have been referred with an urgent suspicion of cancer.
But the performance slumped to 69.4 per cent of patients in the first three months of 2023, down from 71.7 per cent. A cancer diagnosis is terrifying for patients and their families, but the agony is compounded by an unacceptably long wait for treatment.
Patients worry that the disease will spread and the waits take their toll on a person’s mental health. The Scottish government has promised progress in bringing down waits, but in vital areas such as cancer we are going backwards.
The latest A&E figures also show that about a third of patients were not seen within the four-hour target time. A total of 2373 patients (8.5 per cent) waited more than eight hours in A&E and 786 (2.8 per cent) were there for more than 12 hours before being dealt with.
Staff are also demoralised by their working conditions and patients are dipping into their savings to go private. At the same time, income tax has gone up and the government is considering jacking up council tax.
Taking more money from people while public services deteriorate is a toxic combination for the Scottish government. Scots are willing to pay more, but in exchange for improvements to the health service and education.
The government must get a grip before faith in these vital services is lost forever.
Rooting for Lew
Lewis Capaldi’s decision to cancel live shows will disappoint some fans. But anyone who saw him struggle last weekend at Glastonbury will understand.
Lewis was overcome by Tourette’s symptoms to the point that he was unable to sing at all. It was heartbreaking to watch a man who has given pleasure to millions through his music looking so vulnerable.
Thankfully the Glastonbury crowd were incredible by helping him sing Someone You Loved when he seemed at his lowest point. It came as something of a relief to all who have followed the career of this talented Scot when he announced he was taking time out to deal with mental and physical health issues.
Lewis is one of the most-loved pop stars of his generation. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see him back on stage doing what he does best. But it can never be at the expense of his wellbeing,
Lewis should take as long as he needs and know we are all rooting for him.
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