New drive to hit cancer target

Patients suspected as having cancer should be seen by a consultant within 10 working days, Welsh Labour’s Health Minister Mark Drakeford announced today.

He said if the NHS met this interim milestone it would make hitting the overall target to treat cancer patients within 62 days more achievable.

The 62 day target requires individuals who have been referred as a suspected cancer patient be seen and treated within that time. The target covers all milestones of the patient journey, such as the first appointment with a consultant as an outpatient, diagnostic tests and treatment.

Over the past few years, thanks to the hard work of staff, Wales has experienced the fastest rate of improvement across the UK for survival rates at one and five years for all cancers.

Figures who that while the vast majority of urgent referrals are seen within the 62 day target, the NHS has struggled to meet the requirement to see 95% of all referrals within that time frame.

NHS Wales Chief Executive David Sissling will be writing to NHS organisations advising them to utilise this interim milestone as part of their approach to performance management.