More and more services are meeting important clinical standards and survival rates show a marked improvement. We acknowledge, however, that the service still faces significant challenges, particularly in meeting the 2005 waiting-time target.

This is a significant improvement in survival for women with this disease, which is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

It is imperative that a sensitive approach is taken to ensure the victims, their family and friends are protected from the deep emotions that the constant revisiting of this tragedy can unleash.

While it is not for us to determine what subjects Audit Scotland will undertake, I certainly think we can state that it's one that we naturally would want to see sooner rather than later.

While we are encouraged by the recent seasonal improvement in bookings, we still feel it is too early to call the turn, and we remain cautious on the near-term outlook.

Sauve qui peut. To survive
we’d all turn thief

and rascal, or so says the fox,
with her coat of an elegant scoundrel,
her white knife of a smile,
who knows just where she’s going:

to steal something
that doesn’t belong to her -
some chicken, or one more chance,
or other life.