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| NHS cancer care faces fresh scrutiny after hospitals miss key targets | NHS cancer care faces fresh scrutiny after hospitals miss key targets |
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| Hospitals failed to treat thousands of cancer patients fast enough last year, prompting fears that NHS cancer care is deteriorating as the service comes under intense pressure. | Hospitals failed to treat thousands of cancer patients fast enough last year, prompting fears that NHS cancer care is deteriorating as the service comes under intense pressure. |
| The health service breached a number of its performance targets relating to patients with breast, lung, urological and lower gastrointestinal cancers during 2014-15. | The health service breached a number of its performance targets relating to patients with breast, lung, urological and lower gastrointestinal cancers during 2014-15. |
| Official figures released on Wednesday by NHS England show that up to a quarter of patients with three common types of the disease did not receive their first treatment within the required 62 days, despite having been urgently referred for it by their GP. | Official figures released on Wednesday by NHS England show that up to a quarter of patients with three common types of the disease did not receive their first treatment within the required 62 days, despite having been urgently referred for it by their GP. |
| The NHS is supposed to ensure that 85% of such patients undergo their “first definitive treatment” within 62 days. But the latest cancer waiting times annual report shows just 83.4% of patients received surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy within that timeframe. | The NHS is supposed to ensure that 85% of such patients undergo their “first definitive treatment” within 62 days. But the latest cancer waiting times annual report shows just 83.4% of patients received surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy within that timeframe. |
| Just 73.3% of those with lower gastrointestinal cancers (of the colon, rectum and anus) did so last year – the worst performance for any of the five main types of the disease where it is measured. The target was also missed in patients with lung cancer (75.3%), and urological (bladder and kidney) cancer (78%). | Just 73.3% of those with lower gastrointestinal cancers (of the colon, rectum and anus) did so last year – the worst performance for any of the five main types of the disease where it is measured. The target was also missed in patients with lung cancer (75.3%), and urological (bladder and kidney) cancer (78%). |
| Hospitals met the overall target for starting treatment, with at least 96% of patients within 31 days of their diagnosis, achieving 97.7% on that score. But it missed that target for those with urological cancer, treating just 95.3% of such cases within deadline. | Hospitals met the overall target for starting treatment, with at least 96% of patients within 31 days of their diagnosis, achieving 97.7% on that score. But it missed that target for those with urological cancer, treating just 95.3% of such cases within deadline. |
| Similarly, for the whole of 2014-15 the NHS just about managed to ensure that the required 93% of people urgently referred because of symptoms of breast cancer, where the disease had not initially been suspected, were seen by a specialist within 14 days. But it missed the target for the first three months of the year – April, May and June 2014. | Similarly, for the whole of 2014-15 the NHS just about managed to ensure that the required 93% of people urgently referred because of symptoms of breast cancer, where the disease had not initially been suspected, were seen by a specialist within 14 days. But it missed the target for the first three months of the year – April, May and June 2014. |
| However, despite strain on hospitals caused by the ageing and growing population, which were especially visible last winter, the NHS succeeded in meeting an array of key cancer waiting time targets. For example, 94.2% of patients overall were seen by a specialist within 14 days of urgent referral (target 93%) and 93.2% were treated within 62 days of referral from an NHS cancer screening service (target 90%). | However, despite strain on hospitals caused by the ageing and growing population, which were especially visible last winter, the NHS succeeded in meeting an array of key cancer waiting time targets. For example, 94.2% of patients overall were seen by a specialist within 14 days of urgent referral (target 93%) and 93.2% were treated within 62 days of referral from an NHS cancer screening service (target 90%). |
| But the proportions of patients who visited a specialist or received treatment within 31 or 62 days were generally lower than in the previous year, 2013-14. | But the proportions of patients who visited a specialist or received treatment within 31 or 62 days were generally lower than in the previous year, 2013-14. |
| The breaches are a setback for ministers. The Conservative party election manifesto pledged to improve cancer survival rates. But charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support warn that the longer people have to wait for treatment, or to get diagnosed, the lower their chances of survival. | The breaches are a setback for ministers. The Conservative party election manifesto pledged to improve cancer survival rates. But charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support warn that the longer people have to wait for treatment, or to get diagnosed, the lower their chances of survival. |
| Cancer Research UK said the breaches were the worst since records began and could delay patients being diagnosed. “Today’s figures again show that thousands of cancer patients are being failed. There have been consecutive breaches for over a year and almost half of all NHS trusts in England are now breaching the ‘62 day target’. This is the worst result since records began in 2009”, said Sara Hiom, its director of early diagnosis. | |
| “These targets exist to ensure swift diagnosis of cancer and access to treatment, which is vital if we’re serious about having the best survival rates in the world. Patients want confidence that suspected cancer is taken seriously and prioritised by the NHS. These breaches have become a trend and they are worsening. This why urgent action must be taken to support the NHS to ensure it has the resources it needs to meet this challenge.” | |
| The Department of Health’s response did not refer to the NHS’s performance on meeting cancer waiting times. It said: “Survival rates are at a record high, despite the NHS treating more people for cancer than ever before. We have invested an extra £750m to improve treatment and increase early diagnosis in the past five years and through the £1bn Cancer Drugs Fund, we have already given 60,000 people access to the latest drugs. | The Department of Health’s response did not refer to the NHS’s performance on meeting cancer waiting times. It said: “Survival rates are at a record high, despite the NHS treating more people for cancer than ever before. We have invested an extra £750m to improve treatment and increase early diagnosis in the past five years and through the £1bn Cancer Drugs Fund, we have already given 60,000 people access to the latest drugs. |
| “We want the NHS to be the best in the world for cancer survival, and we are determined to make sure that in a world where people are living longer, patients continue to receive the very best care.” | “We want the NHS to be the best in the world for cancer survival, and we are determined to make sure that in a world where people are living longer, patients continue to receive the very best care.” |
| Macmillan Cancer Support said the delays in patients receiving treatment were “unacceptable” and meant patients were being “badly let down”. | Macmillan Cancer Support said the delays in patients receiving treatment were “unacceptable” and meant patients were being “badly let down”. |
| “Once again we see an unacceptable and recurring problem within our healthcare system as the cancer waiting times target has been breached for the fifth time in a row. | “Once again we see an unacceptable and recurring problem within our healthcare system as the cancer waiting times target has been breached for the fifth time in a row. |
| “Today’s figures are yet another clear warning sign that cancer in this country is not fixed, as performance against these targets - which outline the time it should take for people with cancer to begin treatment following an urgent GP referral - continues to deteriorate year on year. People with cancer are having to wait too long for access to treatment and they are being badly let down. This simply cannot continue”, said Dr Fran Woodard, the charity’s director of policy and research. | “Today’s figures are yet another clear warning sign that cancer in this country is not fixed, as performance against these targets - which outline the time it should take for people with cancer to begin treatment following an urgent GP referral - continues to deteriorate year on year. People with cancer are having to wait too long for access to treatment and they are being badly let down. This simply cannot continue”, said Dr Fran Woodard, the charity’s director of policy and research. |
| Given the Conservatives’ stated ambitions to improve cancer care, Macmillan want the new government “to clearly set out how they will implement their commitments to cancer and show that cancer remains a top priority in this parliament”, she added. | Given the Conservatives’ stated ambitions to improve cancer care, Macmillan want the new government “to clearly set out how they will implement their commitments to cancer and show that cancer remains a top priority in this parliament”, she added. |
| Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary, said: “David Cameron promised to improve cancer care, but under his government the cancer treatment target has been missed again and again and again. That means more people waiting longer for vital treatment, with over 20,000 people waiting longer than two months to start cancer treatment in the last year alone.” | Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary, said: “David Cameron promised to improve cancer care, but under his government the cancer treatment target has been missed again and again and again. That means more people waiting longer for vital treatment, with over 20,000 people waiting longer than two months to start cancer treatment in the last year alone.” |