Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 8 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether a rapid cancer diagnostic pathway for aggressive cancers is currently in place across all NHS boards, and if so, how consistently it is implemented across Scotland.
Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services are a useful addition to how cancer can be diagnosed in Scotland. They provide primary care with access to a new fast-track diagnostic pathway for people with non-specific symptoms suspicious of cancer, such as weight loss and fatigue.
Scotland’s six Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDSs) – established within existing NHS infrastructure – are operational in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Borders and NHS Forth Valley. The development of RCDSs is being led through the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD).
The Scottish Government has commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to undertake an independent scalability assessment of our Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service Pilots. This project will explore what our options are to expand access to non-specific symptom pathways for cancer in the most efficient and effective way, ensuring we reach population level coverage.
This initial phase of work is due to be complete by Spring 2027 after which we will work with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery and NHS Boards to develop an appropriate plan for service expansion.