Northern Ireland cancer waiting time targets missed again
New figures from the Department of Health show less than half of cancer patients received their first treatment after an urgent referral
New figures from the Department of Health once again show that Northern Ireland has fallen short of their cancer waiting time targets.
They show that none of the Department of Health's targets for cancer testing were met.
In March, 48.1% of patients started their first treatment for cancer following an urgent referral within the 62 day target.
However, the department target is that 95% of patients should begin treatment within 62 days after an urgent GP referral.
Margaret Carr, Public Affairs Manager for Cancer Research UK in Northern Ireland says that the situation 'must get better'.
"Once again Cancer Research UK is very disappointed at the figures today," she said.
"This is not anything new. Covid has made the problems worse but it hasn't caused any of the problems to be honest.
"It's chronic underfunding in terms of workforce and kit in diagnostics particularly."
Richard Spratt, CEO of Cancer Focus NI said, “Once again, we are dismayed at this repeated failure to meet the Department’s own waiting time targets. These statistics represent real people. Waiting for a diagnostic test or treatment, can be devastating – we hear of the impact every day as we continue to support local patients and their families through their cancer journey.
"The ongoing collapse of the Stormont Executive has created unnecessary worry around the long-term budgetary planning necessary to implement the new Cancer Strategy. Cancer Focus NI expects an urgent commitment from all Ministers to guarantee recurring funding to deliver the Strategy’s recommendations immediately. This was our key ask for our politicians at the recent Assembly elections and the public need and demand delivery.”
The NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics Release was for for January, February and March 2022.
The release gives details of the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals during January, February and March 2022.
Key facts and figures are listed below:
Waiting times for first treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62 day target)
• In March 2022, 414 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following an urgent referral for suspect cancer. Of these, 48.1% (199 patients) started treatment within 62 days, compared with 41.2% (175 of the 425 patients) in February, 33.8% (142 of the 420 patients) in January and 49.2% (216 of the 439 patients) in March 2021.
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following a decision to treat (31 day target)
• During March 2022, 872 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following a decision to treat being taken. Of these, 88.5% (772) started treatment within 31 days, compared with 88.2% (769 of the 872 patients) in February, 82.1% (734 of the 894 patients) in January and 86.6% (767 of the 886 patients) in March 2021.
Patients first seen following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer (14 day target)
• During March 2022, 1,376 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist for a first assessment following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer. Of these, 43.6% (600) were seen within 14 days, compared with 54.3% (666 of the 1,226 patients) in February, 55.1% (692 of the 1,255 patients) in January and 33.2% (508 of the 1,530 patients) in March 2021.
Referrals for suspect breast cancer
• In March 2022, 2,189 new referrals for suspect breast cancer were received; this compares to 2,010 in February, 2,305 in January and 2,380 in March 2021. Referrals for suspect breast cancer can be for advice, assessment or both.
• Of those new referrals for suspect breast cancer in March 2022, 1,446 (66.1%) were classified as urgent.
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