• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Kerr Orders Health Boards to Cut Cancer Waiting Times

Posted on: Friday, 14 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

By CALUM MACDONALD and ROBBIE DINWOODIE

ANDY Kerr yesterday ordered health boards to make urgent improvements in cutting waiting times for cancer patients after figures revealed that for some cancers delays are rising.

The figures showed that more than half of all people diagnosed with bowel cancer are not treated within a twomonth target period set by the Scottish Executive.

Ministers have said from the end of December the maximum time from urgent referral to treatment for cancer patients should not exceed two months.

But yesterday's figures show the target is unlikely to be achieved for patients suffering from bowel and ovarian cancer, prompting Mr Kerr to say that "rapid and demonstrable improvements" must be made.

Waiting times for the treatment of some cancers have fallen, but only 47.5-per cent of people with colorectal, or bowel, cancer were treated within two months during the period from January to March this year. In the previous quarter the proportion was 57.3-per cent.

Waiting times for ovarian cancer treatment also rose: in the final quarter of 2004, 85.7-per cent of cases were treated within the two-month period, but the figure fell to 78.9-per cent in the first quarter of this year.

However, breast cancer and lung cancer sufferers saw their waiting times reduced.

In the case of breast cancer patients, 86.3-per cent were treated within two months, up by 1.5-per cent on the previous quarter's figures, and in the case of lung cancer the figure was 71.8-per cent, up 3.3-per cent.

Mr Kerr said the targets set by the executive were challenging, but admitted the lack of progress in driving down waiting times was disappointing in light of the GBP150m investment in cancer services since 2001.

He said: "We set a stretching target, and have always recognised it will be difficult to meet.

These figures show the amount of work boards need to undertake before the end of the year."

He said he would closely monitor the progress of boards, adding: "At each of the recent annual reviews I impressed on NHS boards that delivering change and improving cancer waiting times are top priorities.

NHS boards must take action now and show rapid and demonstrable improvements."

The failure to meet treatment deadlines for some forms of cancer has occurred despite an increased capacity for cancer treatment, with 300 additional staff and new equipment.

Mr Kerr said: "We have replaced old scanning and treatment equipment and put in extra new state-of-the-art imaging, radiotherapy and other equipment in hospitals, with innovative use to treat patients in rural communities.

"By the end of 2007, patients will wait no more than nine weeks for any MRI or CT scans and other key diagnostic tests."

Opposition parties claimed the pledge to cut waiting time delays was an empty promise.

Shona Robison, SNP health spokeswoman, said: "When last quarter's figures for colorectal cancer care were released, we were assured by Mr Kerr action would be taken to reduce the length of time patients had to wait for treatment. However, we now see the situation has deteriorated.

"Mr Kerr says that NHS boards must do better. I would encourage him to take his own advice and start to deliver on his promises to improve Scotland's health service."

Nanette Milne, the Conservative health spokeswoman, said: "Cancer is one of the big three killers that the executive have been focusing on, so if it can't make any progress in this area, how will it improve the overall situation in the NHS?"

A spokesman for Bowel Cancer UK said: "It is worrying that waiting times for bowel cancer patients are lengthening and targets are not being met.

"Each patient has an individual response, but the psychological effect of a delay in receiving treatment can be damaging."

Source: Herald, The; Glasgow (UK)

More News in this Category