HEALTH Secretary Humza Yousaf stopped off at the Victoria Hospital this week to see work taking place in its award-winning Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS).

Mr Yousaf MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, met staff from the service as well as NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter and medical director Dr Christopher McKenna.

He also spoke to a number of patients who had been referred to the unit.

The visit coincided with the publication of an independent interim report by the University of Strathclyde looking at data from the first year of the service.

The report found that across the three services, more than 12 per cent of patients cared for received an early cancer diagnosis, with a further 33.8 per cent receiving a diagnosis of a non-cancerous health issue.

The service was launched in 2021 and provides a new clinical pathway to support the earlier diagnosis of patients with non-specific symptoms of possible cancer.

NHS Fife was one of three health boards in Scotland who piloted the development of rapid cancer diagnostic services initially.

The team's work was recognised at the Scottish Health Awards 2022 where it picked up the coveted Innovation Award.