Cancer treatment performance in Ayrshire is above the Scottish average, according to the latest figures. During July 2026, 77.3 per cent of patients urgently referred with suspected cancer began treatment within 62 days. This compares with the Scottish average of 74.4 per cent but remains below the national standard of 95 per cent.
The figures are contained in a performance report presented to NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board. The report also shows that 99.3 per cent of patients began cancer treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat, exceeding the national standard of 95 per cent and the Scottish average of 94.6 per cent.
Two measures of cancer treatment
The two measures assess different stages of the cancer treatment pathway. The 62-day standard measures the time between an urgent suspected cancer referral and the start of treatment. The 31-day standard measures the period between a decision to treat and treatment beginning.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s latest performance exceeded its own targets for both measures. The board had set an interim target of 74 per cent for the 62-day measure by July, while its 31-day trajectory was 99 per cent.
Comparison with other boards
The report describes the health board’s relative cancer performance as strong compared with other NHS boards in Scotland. However, the 62-day figure indicates that more than one in five patients covered by the measure did not begin treatment within the national waiting-time standard.
The health board is aiming to improve its 62-day performance to 85 per cent by March 2027. It is also seeking to maintain 31-day performance at 99 per cent.
Other services and challenges
The latest figures were considered by the Performance Governance Committee at its meeting on October 1. Members recognised that cancer services were continuing to perform above their planned trajectories.
The report also highlights improvements in other services, including musculoskeletal care, mental health and diagnostic imaging. However, significant challenges remain elsewhere, particularly in endoscopy and emergency departments.
The board’s overall performance report provides a mixed picture of healthcare delivery, with some specialties exceeding their planned improvement targets while others remain under considerable pressure.
