by Mark Entwistle mentwistle@obantimes.co.uk
The Belford Hospital.
A Lochaber MSP says residents in the region will be concerned over new figures showing that early cancer detection rates are falling across the Highlands. Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron (Con) was speaking after the new figures were released by NHS Scotland. The numbers published by the NHS statistics service ISD Scotland show that in 2015-16, the percentage of Highland patients diagnosed at stage one for breast, colorectal and lung cancers sat at 24.7 per cent. In 2016-17, the percentage fell to 24.3 per cent, which represents 50 fewer diagnoses at stage one compared to the previous year. The figures also show a fall in the percentage of patients diagnosed at stage two, while the percentage diagnosed at the final stage four of cancer rose from 24.7 per cent to 25.3 per cent.