Record number of people starting cancer treatment in Wales

A record number of people started cancer treatment in June within the 62-day target time, according to figures out today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The latest figures for June show that 86.5% of people (578 of 668 patients) started treatment within the target time via the Urgent Suspected Cancer route, compared to 88.6% (534 out of 603 patients) the previous month. The number of people starting cancer treatment via this route overall was also the highest on record. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Meanwhile more people (824 of 846 patients) started treatment within the target time via the non-urgent route, where cancer was not initially suspected, compared to the previous month; 97.4% of patients, narrowly missing the 98% target. This is the highest number of people starting treatment since December 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Overall, June saw the highest number of people start cancer treatment in Wales since records began. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport, Vaughan Gething said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Record numbers of people are starting treatment for cancer in Wales and more people than ever are surviving the disease, thanks to our NHS. However, I expect health boards to continue their efforts to meet these demanding targets. I want to thank all the NHS staff who are working hard to ensure that the majority of people are able to start their treatment promptly.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​