LESS than half of Scots patients suffering from cancer that affects their voice have access to a speech therapist, new figures how.

Figures show that no health boards met the 90% government target last year for the treatment of head and neck cancers.

Overall in Scotland, less than 40% of patients were reviewed by a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) before treatment.

Only NHS Grampian and NHS Forth Valley approached 90% compliance.

A total of 1149 people were diagnosed with head and neck cancer in Scotland from the beginning of April 2014 to the end of March 2015.

The figures, which were released by ISDN Scotland, also show that none of the 14 health boards met all the 11 performance standards for head and neck cancers.

Across Scotland, targets were not met in smoking cessation, oral assessment, nutritional screening and imaging.

In one of the worst examples, Grampian Health Board only reached 2% of its smoking cessation target of 95%.

The charity, Cancer Support Scotland, described the figures as "disappointing."

Chief Executive Colin Graham said: "There should be a full explanation of why this is happening.

"People with oral, head and neck cancers deserve better and they should be told why every Scottish health board is struggling to meet the targets."

Mr Graham said: “It is clear from the figures announced more work is needed to turn them around.

"It will come as a disappointment to many patients who have been given a diagnosis and are at risk of receiving vital treatment later than the recommended targets. An early diagnoses and treatment is critical to better survival.”

Head and neck cancer can affect the nasal cavity, oral cavity, tongue, salivary glands, larynx, and pharynx.

A Head and Neck Cancer support group meets regularly at Cancer Support Scotland. Anyone interested in joining the support group can call Cancer Support Scotland on 0141 337 8199 for more information.