Link-Gov.Org

The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health.

CANCER WAITING TIMES STATISTICS - 2008/09 QUARTER 3

The key points from the latest release are:
Performance on the five standards has remained around their highest recorded levels, during the period October to December 2008, namely:

99.8% of patients were seen within 2 weeks from urgent GP referral to outpatient appointment. This is similar to 2008-09 Q2 (99.7%).

99.8 % of patients were treated within 1 month from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer. This is unchanged from 2008-09 Q2.

99.6 % of patients were treated within 2 months from urgent GP referral to treatment for breast cancer. This is similar to 2008-09 Q2 (99.5%).

99.5 % of patients were treated within 1 month from diagnosis to treatment for all cancers. This is similar to 2008-09 Q2 (99.6%).

96.9 % of patients were treated within 2 months from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers. This is unchanged from 2008-09 Q2.

From Q4, the methodology for calculating cancer waiting times will change to bring it in line with current waiting times calculation methodologies. An estimate of the impact of this change in methodology on reported performance and the detailed figures for the current and previous quarters can be accessed at

http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/

See below for further detailed statistical notes

Statistical Notes

1. Waiting times standards

This release covers the following waiting times targets/standards:

* Maximum two week wait for an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer to date first seen for all suspected cancers
* Maximum one month wait from diagnosis (DECISION TO TREAT DATE) to first definitive treatment for breast cancer
* Maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral for suspected cancer to first definitive treatment for breast cancer
* Maximum one month wait from diagnosis (DECISION TO TREAT DATE) to first definitive treatment for all cancers
* Maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral for suspected cancer to first definitive treatment for all cancers

All these targets are being monitored through the national cancer waiting times database (CWT-db).

2. Submission of cancer waiting times data

Two week standard
The trust that is commissioned to see patients following urgent GP referral for suspected cancer is responsible for meeting the two-week wait standard. They are also responsible for returning data on these patients up to the date first seen and for explaining breaches of the two-week wait standard.

One month (31 days) and two month (62 days) standards
The trust commissioned to administer the first definitive treatment is responsible for meeting the targets on time to first treatment. They are also responsible for returning data on these patients to monitor the targets and for explaining breaches on existing standards (see below).
Some patients on the 62 day pathway are first seen under the two week standard at one trust and are then referred on to another trust for treatment. So, in this case, both trusts are responsible for ensuring that the 62 day waiting time target is met. The Healthcare Commission assesses the performance of both trusts in the care pathway in achieving the 62 day target, as part of the performance ratings.

Information on breaches
Detailed reports on breaches are required on all patients that wait longer than the target time and should include how long the patient waited, reason for the breach in the target and action put in place to prevent further breaches. The reason for the breach should still be recorded for a patient where there are good clinical reasons for the time to treatment exceeding the treatment time.

Which patients do the targets apply to ?

The 31 day target applies to all new diagnoses of cancer regardless of the route of referral. For example this will include urgent GP referrals, routine GP referrals and screening referrals.

The 62 day target only applies to patients who are referred through the two week wait referral route. However, this applies to ALL patients referred through this route, irrespective of whether the referral was received within 24 hours.

The NHS Cancer Plan standards have been set for all patients cared for under the NHS in England and these are the patients to be monitored.

If the NHS commissions a private provider to undertake cancer care then this is still NHS activity and should be reported against cancer waits targets. If the care of a patient is sub-contracted (and hence paid for) by an English NHS trust then this patient should be recorded under this NHS trust.

The targets only apply to patients with a newly diagnosed cancer. The targets do not apply to a patient receiving treatment for a recurrence of cancer.

When a patients is diagnosed with a second new cancer, which is not a recurrence, then the targets will apply to the treatment of this cancer.

How are the waiting times calculated in the national database
(The table overleaf refers to data items, which are fully explained in DSCN 22/2002 -
see http://nww.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/nhais/cancerwaiting/222002.pdf for details)

The national database provides reports for each of the waiting times targets. The table below specifies how the database selects records for a report and how the waiting time for each patient is calculated. For the reporting period starting x and ending y

For monitoring purposes:
Two weeks is 14 calendar days 
A month is taken to be 31 calendar days
Two months is 62 calendar days

The date at the beginning of the waiting period is day 0. Hence, in order to meet the 14 day standard if a patient is referred on 1st February, the patient would need to be seen on or before 15th February.

SEE WORD DOCUMENT FOR TABLES.

See appendix D of DSCN 22/2002 for full details

From Q4, the methodology for calculating cancer waiting times will change to bring it in line with current waiting times calculation methodologies. An estimate of the impact of this change in methodology on reported performance is available at:

http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/

Friday 27 February 2009 09:30
Department of Health 

Email (will not be published)

Name

Title

Comment
 remaining characters

Post