Once diagnosed with cancer the only chance you have for survival is to start chemo and radiation immediately. In America that’s not a problem, in countries like Scotland with a socialized medicine scheme it’s not even thought to be possible. From the Daily Record:

CANCER patients are still waiting up to seven months for treatment.

Patients are supposed to be treated within 62 days of urgent referral.

But figures out yesterday showed only three areas in Scotland were meeting those targets every time.

In the worst cases, sufferers were kept hanging on for 220 days.

The figures, for the first three months of the year, show 85.4 per cent of patients across Scotland were seen within 62 days.

The target set two years ago is 95 per cent.

Yesterday’s figures were up six per cent on last year but down slightly on the previous quarter.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon promised to take action.

She said: “It is vital patients get the best treatment, appropriate to their needs, as quickly as possible.

“I have demanded weekly reports on progress from all health boards to ensure they get on track to meet the target.”

Orkney, Shetland and Argyll and Clyde, which is part of NHS Highlands, achieved a 100 per cent score for cancer patients being treated with two months. Lanarkshire had the poorest performance, with just 70.3 per cent of patients being seen within the target time.

Even the 62 day target that they’re trying desperately to hit is too late, allowing an aggressive cancer to spread unchecked for two months (and according to the story more) is malpractice of the worst kind. It’s a death sentence enforced by a government vote buying scheme that kills off anyone who would have a reason to disagree with it.

But let’s get some of that here!

h/t Moonbattery