The Health Secretary says inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic will be the focus of a new recovery plan for cancer services decimated by the covid-19 pandemic.

But, in a bleak assessment of the challenges ahead, she warned that people with all conditions will have to wait significantly longer for treatment as hospital and treatment centre capacity is reduced to keep patients safe.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Jeane Freeman gave more details of the work underway to remobilise health services, saying more operations will be diverted to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital and the Louisa Jordan hospital at the SEC as the number of cases that operating theatres can deal with in any one day is halved.

She told MSPs that there was likely to be an increase in demand for mental health services and she wanted these, and teams treating people with alcohol and drug problems, to remobilise as soon as possible.

Ms Freeman said that the national integrated workforce plan will be amended to reduce the impact being felt by staff and to “offer them some respite”.

But she said the NHS faces significant challenges in the coming months, not least if a no-deal Brexit, impacting the supply of medicines, was to coincide with the height of the flu season.

Announcing a new cancer plan, Jeane Freeman said she wanted it to take on board changes made in response to covid-19, such as more use of video technology, innovations in triage and quicker decision-making about treatment.

“We have been able to drive forward welcome reforms at pace and take new innovative approaches. We now need to embed these changes for the long term.

“The plan will continue the momentum of these approaches to service improvement, ensure patients have the best available treatment and care across Scotland, and make sure that our diagnostic pathways for people who may have cancer are as smooth and timely as possible.

“Understanding and improving the experience of patients will be at the centre of this plan and the safety of patients and staff will continue to be our priority.”

The government says, while the plan will be developed by clinicians, they will consult widely in the run-up to publishing in the autumn.

Chair of the Scottish Cancer Coalition of patient organisations, Claire Donaghy, welcomed the announcement:

“Members of the coalition presented their priorities for cancer services recovery to the Scottish Government earlier this month and are encouraged to know that this has informed the Cabinet Secretary's advice to progress with a recovery plan. We are looking forward to engaging further in the development of this plan in the coming weeks."

Policy and public affairs manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, Peter Hastie, added:

“Macmillan welcomes the government’s commitment to delivering a cancer recovery plan. We look forward to working with them to ensure the delivery of a plan that not only gets services back up and running, but that guarantees person-centred care, tackles inequalities and embraces innovation.”

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