The goal of reducing waiting times for cancer treatment to pre-pandemic levels is not being met by NHS England.
It was hoped that the number of people waiting over 62 days would decrease by March 2023, but a new target for March 2024 is being discussed with the government.
NHS England’s National Cancer Director Dame Callie Palmer told the Parliamentary Committee on Health and Welfare that progress has been made in closing the 62+ day backlog, but more needs to be done.
“We have made a lot of progress, last summer the backlog reached an all-time high of about 34,000. Last week there were 23,500, so we lost about 10,000, but there is still a long way to go.
“The reason we’re at 23,500, and not quite at pre-pandemic levels, is because we’ve had a record number of urgent cancer cases since March 2021.”
The goal is to have 85 percent of people start treatment within the specified 62-day period after an emergency referral. In November, 61 percent of people started treatment within 62 days, and that figure increased slightly to 61.8 percent the following month.
Dame Callie told MPs: “Most of the people waiting for this 62-day trajectory do not have cancer, they are waiting for a decision. And of course, this causes a lot of anxiety for people, so let’s really focus on the diagnostic part of this trail so we can get through it as quickly as possible.
“Only because of this record demand will we miss our pre-pandemic target by the end of March.”
Conservative MP Steve Russell, chairman of the Select Committee on Health and Social Assistance, said it was important that people with suspected symptoms of cancer continue to apply.
Dame Callie explained that the new target for March 2024, currently being discussed with Health Secretary Steve Barclay but not yet confirmed, would be “dynamic” as she wanted to help the public seek help.
She confirmed to the committee that the goal by March 2024 of at least 75 percent of patients either diagnosed with cancer or excluded within 28 days of an urgent GP referral was non-negotiable.
Currently, 71 percent of people are being treated under the rapid diagnostic standard.
Dame Callie hoped to reach the goal before March 2024, adding: “And that’s really important for survival.”
Professor Peter Johnson, director of the UK’s Southampton Cancer Research Centre, who appeared before the committee along with Dame Callie, said the NHS receives up to 250,000 cancer referrals each month.
He said the NHS has been working to prioritize those patients who have been waiting the longest for treatment, rather than trying to meet the 62-day target for new referrals.
“We felt it was critical that we look at the people who have waited the longest and prioritize screening and treating people based on their clinical needs over targeting a specific target, but it is clear that with the right behavior, our ability to achieve these goals will continue to improve.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.