Crisis in cancer care: Third of patients facing two month waits for treatment
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to come forward with an urgent strategy to improve cancer care, after new statistics revealed that NHS England has yet again missed all four of its major targets for cancer waiting times. Analysis by the party shows that from January to March 2022, nearly 150,000 people waited longer than two weeks to see a consultant after an urgent referral from their GP, or an average of 1,600 per day. It means only 78% of people saw a consultant within two weeks of a GP referral, way below the NHS target of 93%. The figures also show that almost 200,000 or 29.5% of people waited longer than 28 days to get a cancer diagnosis from their specialist after an urgent referral from a GP. This means the target of 75% of people getting their diagnosis within this time was missed and that the equivalent of over 2,000 people per day missed out on a timely diagnosis. Over 6,000 (7.7%) patients waited a month or more to begin their first treatment after a decision to treat the cancer, almost double the 4% target. Meanwhile, 15,000 or over one third of people waited two months or more to start cancer treatment after a referral from their GP. This means a target of 85% of people starting treatment within that period is being badly missed by 21 points. It comes after no reference was made to improving cancer care in last week's Queen's Speech. Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has tabled an amendment to the Queen's Speech, calling for a comprehensive strategy to be put forward on how the Government plans to meet a commitment for 80% of patients to be seen within two months by 2023. The party is also calling for the Government to hire more health staff, particularly specialist cancer nurses. Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: "This Conservative Government has no real plan to fix the crisis in cancer waiting times. Ministers are sitting on their hands while people are being left in pain, or have to watch their loved ones suffering. "The Conservatives have taken the NHS for granted for years and have their heads in the sand over huge staff shortages. The Queen's Speech didn't mention cancer care and Boris Johnson hasn't even brought forward any new legislation to tackle this mess. "He needs to bring forward a plan now - people bravely battling cancer deserve far better than being abandoned by a Government that doesn't do enough to ease their burden." Notes Source: NHS England: Statistics on Waiting Times for Suspected and Diagnosed Cancer Patients Q4 2021/22 Key Points - Provider Based - Provisional [here] Source: NHS England: Monthly Commissioner Cancer Waiting Times Statistics [here] The outcomes from the first quarter of 2022 continue the downward trend in GP referrals and cancer treatment seen in recent years. The percentage of patients seen and treated within the NHS target timeframes are now the worst on record. Prof Pat Price, a leading oncologist and co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, described cancer waiting times as "catastrophic and the worst ever". Full text of Tim Farron's amendment to the Queen's Speech on cancer waiting times is as below: At end add 'but, while welcoming the mental health bill brought forward in the Gracious Speech and the forthcoming scrutiny of its contents, respectfully regret that it did not include a strategy for reducing cancer waiting times as committed by the Government; are concerned by the continued downward trajectory of cancer waiting times since 2017; note that NHS operational standards requiring at least 85 per cent of cancer patients to be seen within 62 days have not been met for over five years; note the commitment to reach an average figure of 80 per cent of patients seen within 62 days by March 2023; and respectfully ask the Government to publish a strategy for how that target will be met.'
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