Key Cancer Waiting Times In Wales Improve

Waiting times for a key cancer target in Wales have improved – the best performance in six months, new figures published today show. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The figures for January 2016 show 86.5% of people (492 out of 569) newly-diagnosed with cancer started treatment, following an urgent GP referral within the target time of 62 days (known as the urgent suspected cancer route) – this includes all diagnostic tests and consultations with experts. This is up from 86.2% in December 2015 and is the best performance since July 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Three of Wales’ seven health boards achieved 90% or higher in January: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board: 92.9% – the second consecutive month it has achieved more than 90%
• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board: 92.6% – the third consecutive month it has achieved more than 90%
• Hywel Dda University Health Board: 90.9% – its best January performance since 2012.

In addition, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg treated 114 out of 139 people within target time – the most treated within 62 days since June 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile, 96% of people (787 out of 820) who were newly-diagnosed with cancer started definitive treatment following diagnosis within 31 days (not via the urgent route). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The improvements in the 62-day cancer waiting time performance comes after Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething asked each of Wales’ health boards to produce 100-day plans to improve cancer services in October 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Gething said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Over the last 12 months, more than 16,000 people in Wales have started treatment for cancer in the Welsh NHS, with 14,926 treated within target time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m pleased to see an improvement in the number of people newly-diagnosed with cancer starting treatment within the 62-day target. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“While two of Wales’ health boards are treating more than 90% of patients within target time on a consistent basis, I want every health board achieving consistently high levels of performance so people with cancer receive timely access to treatment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​