NHS replaces cancer waiting time target

author: FutureCar Staff    

The NHS is considering scrapping targets that ensure patients see a specialist within two weeks of being urgently referred by their GP for suspected cancer. Instead, the new cancer targets set to be announced this week would require hospitals to have 75% of patients diagnosed with cancer or told they don't have it within 28 days. The current two-week waiting time target does not cover the time taken for diagnostic tests and reporting results back to patients.

Cancer charities and doctors have expressed support for replacing the two-week waiting time target with the 28-day "faster diagnosis standard." They believe this change will be helpful for patients suffering from cancer and will help pick up cancer faster. However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Government of "moving the goalposts" and failing to hit targets.

A consultation on the cancer target plans started last year, highlighting that the current two-week wait sets no expectation for when patients should receive test results or have a confirmed diagnosis. Under the proposed Faster Diagnosis Standard, patients who have been urgently referred, have symptoms of breast cancer, or have been picked up through screening should have cancer ruled out or receive a diagnosis within 28 days.

The NHS has not met the 28-day faster diagnosis target since it was introduced as a trial in April 2021. In June, only 73% of patients were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within the timeframe. Dr. Tom Roques, Vice President of the Royal College of Radiologists, believes the faster diagnosis standard is a more meaningful measure to patients and the NHS than the two-week wait.

Oncologist Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, emphasized that poor performance in meeting cancer targets is not due to how they are measured but rather a lack of investment in cancer treatment capacity. New figures published by NHS England show that cancer wait times remain well below targets, with 80.5% of patients seeing a specialist within two weeks, below the target of 93%.

Cancer Research UK's director of evidence and implementation, Naser Turabi, called for long-term funding and a clear strategy from the UK Government to accelerate research, boost the cancer workforce, and diagnose more cancers earlier. Health Secretary Steve Barclay did not comment on claims that two-thirds of cancer targets will be scrapped but stated that any changes would be made in consultation with leading cancer charities.

FutureCar Staff