Labour's 2 week cancer guarantee

Labour’s pledge to halve cancer waiting times was ranked by Scottish voters as their top priority at the Holyrood election in a BBC poll. By contrast, the SNP’s priorities of an independence referendum and introducing a local income tax were amongst the least popular policies.  
 
Mr Gray visited Bridge of Allan Medical Practice, where – along with Jackie Baillie, Labour’s Health spokesperson and Dr Richard Simpson, Labour’s candidate for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane – where he met with local medical staff and signed the pledge.

Labour has also pledged to support the programme of financial advice projects for cancer patients at the five main cancer centres in Scotland.

Scottish Labour Leader, Iain Gray, said:

"While the Tories are busy trying to break up the NHS, Labour is bringing forward plans to improve it in Scotland.

"Cancer continues to claim the lives of too many Scots and casts a dark shadow over too many families.

"We must up our efforts in the fight against cancer so we can diagnose cancer quicker.

"That is why Labour will introduce a new right to see a cancer specialist and get results within two weeks, halving the current waiting time.  

"Too many Scots suffer from unnecessary anxiety as a result of the length of time they have to wait from referral from their GP as a result of cancer scare to seeing a cancer specialist.

"Now the Tories are back, we see what they really want to do to our NHS, here in Scotland we have an opportunity to do things differently."

Scottish Labour Health spokesperson, Jackie Baillie, added:

"Waiting times for cancer diagnosis have already come down in Scotland as a result of the investment of the previous Labour Government, but the SNP have not done enough to carry this work forward.

“You cannot put a price on a life.

“That is why reducing cancer diagnosis waiting times will be a Labour Government’s number one health priority."

Dr Richard Simpson said:

"I got involved in politics because I want to make a difference on what really matters for the people in my community and Scotland as a whole.

"Cancer diagnosis is one such issue.

"I know the worry and stress that extended cancer diagnosis cause for those at risk and their families. I am proud that Scottish Labour has pledged to tackle this."