This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8122798.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ministers to unveil cancer pledge Ministers to unveil cancer pledge
(about 1 hour later)
Patients in England suspected of suffering from cancer will have the right to see a specialist within two weeks, ministers will announce. Patients in England suspected of suffering from cancer will have the right to see a specialist within two weeks, ministers are due to announce.
The pledge will be part of the government's draft legislative programme to be unveiled on Monday. Primary care trusts would be required to pay for private consultations if NHS hospitals cannot meet the timescale.
Primary care trusts would be required to use the private sector if local NHS hospitals cannot meet the timescale.
There could be financial penalties for failure to keep to the two-week limit which at the moment is only a target.There could be financial penalties for failure to keep to the two-week limit which at the moment is only a target.
The pledge will be part of the government's draft legislative programme to be unveiled on Monday.
BBC News political correspondent Iain Watson says the government is keen to show people can still expect good service from the NHS despite an expected squeeze on public spending.BBC News political correspondent Iain Watson says the government is keen to show people can still expect good service from the NHS despite an expected squeeze on public spending.
Survival ratesSurvival rates
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will launch a document called Building Britain's Future on Monday. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to launch the document called Building Britain's Future.
It will outline plans to reduce Whitehall targets and extend new rights to the users of public services.It will outline plans to reduce Whitehall targets and extend new rights to the users of public services.
The two-week target is only expected to affect a few hundred patients because most NHS trusts in England already meet the deadline, but involving the private sector in acute treatment is regarded as a major change of approach.
Currently only elective surgery such as hip replacements and cataract surgery is provided through private treatment.
Mr Brown will also make a statement on his draft legislative programme for the year ahead.Mr Brown will also make a statement on his draft legislative programme for the year ahead.
There are fears among some public service professionals that hospitals could be open to legal action if they fail to deliver on the new range of rights the government will announce.There are fears among some public service professionals that hospitals could be open to legal action if they fail to deliver on the new range of rights the government will announce.
Earlier this year a study suggested the NHS's Cancer Plan may have helped boost survival rates.Earlier this year a study suggested the NHS's Cancer Plan may have helped boost survival rates.
The plan's aims include a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to treatment and a reduction in the number of people smoking. The two-week target was first introduced for suspected breast cancer cases in England in 1999, and extended to all cancers in 2000. It was adopted in Wales six years later.
The strategy was launched in England in 2000 and adopted in Wales six years later.
The NHS in Scotland has had a target since 2001 of 95% of urgent cancer cases beginning treatment within two months of referral. The same target exists in Northern Ireland.The NHS in Scotland has had a target since 2001 of 95% of urgent cancer cases beginning treatment within two months of referral. The same target exists in Northern Ireland.