The Scottish government has published an action plan for improving cancer care and support.

It includes a new commitment that, by 2011, all cancer patients will be treated within 31 days of the decision to treat.

The country's existing 62-day urgent referral to treatment time will be extended to patients who screen positive at national screening programmes.

Macmillan Cancer Support will be given an additional£500,000 for its advice services and to trial a return to work programme.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The new measures announced today are deliberately designed to relieve the anxiety that accompanies a cancer diagnosis.

"This includes improved access to treatment through the new waiting times targets, our commitment to working with the voluntary sector to improve all aspects of cancer patients' care, for example funding to support the excellent work of Macmillan Cancer Support in relation to financial and benefits advice.

"All those patients screened must know that their access to treatment will be swift, which is why we are extending Scotland's current urgent 'referral to treatment' target to screened positive patients.

"In addition, we are introducing a new target to ensure that by 2011 all patients - regardless of their referral route - start their treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat."

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