Shropshire's hospitals buck trend for cancer waiting times

Across the UK the number of cancer patients having to wait longer than the target time to see a consultant and begin treatment is growing year-on-year, figures from NHS England show.

However, the latest figures for July this year show the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) is exceeding the national target.

Figures for July show 86.6 per cent of patients begin definitive cancer treatment within 62 days following an urgent GP referral, above the 85 per cent target.

The national figures for July show only 81.9 per cent of patients began their treatment within the recommended time.

In addition, the 93 per cent standard for two-week waiting times for patients with breast symptoms, where cancer was not initially suspected, was also exceeded at SaTH with the figure currently at 95.8 per cent.

Nationally this figure is at 92.4 per cent.

Kathryn Poli, cancer performance manager at SaTH, said: "We are proud to be bucking the national trend and ensuring our patients are seen in a timely manner."These figures have been achieved thanks to proactive and joined-up working between staff right across the trust who are dedicated to providing the best care and the best experience for our patients at what can be a very difficult time."

An NHS spokesman said: "The NHS is helping more people survive cancer than ever before and we've met and exceeded six of the eight cancer waiting time standards.

"Swift diagnosis is key, and these figures show that more people than ever are seeing a specialist within two weeks of visiting their GP. More people were seen in July than any previous month on record."

Meanwhile, NHS patients with suspected cancer will be diagnosed faster under new measures for treating the disease, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. The new 'more patient-centred' plans will mean that from 2020 patients will be given a definitive cancer diagnosis leading to treatment – or the all-clear – within 28 days of being referred by a GP.

The new measure amends the previous target, which meant that patients with suspected cancer must see a specialist within 14 days of being referred by their GP. The investigation period which followed this had no previous limit. Health experts believe the new method could save up to 11,000 lives a year.

Officials said the new standard will make sure that cancer services are delivered more effectively around the needs of patients and their families.