It is always refreshing to hear government ministers admit when things aren’t going to plan and that they need to do better.

And new Health Secretary Michael Matheson’s message is crystal clear – the Scottish Government’s record on cancer is unacceptable. Dismal is a more accurate description for the dire picture of oncology waiting times, with the latest figures the worst on record.

As a member of the government since the SNP swept to power in 2007, he bears some of the collective responsibility for the deterioration. At least by acknowledging how bad things are, he can now begin the long process of making key improvements.

The Scottish Government has created cancer diagnostic centres to help improve waiting times but Matheson is right, health boards need to step up to the mark and drive the waiting lists down by any means possible. A delay in diagnosis leads to a delay in treatment which can be the difference between life and death.

He is facing a huge job with junior doctor strike threats, never ending A&E queues and staffing shortages filling his in-tray. His vision of an expansion of primary care comes with no extra money so just how successful that will be remains to be seen. But he is confident solutions will be found, albeit he predicts they could take “years” to sort out.

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