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19
Mar 2019
Cancer waiting time target missed for over 1,000 days
The flagship cancer waiting time target has now been missed by the NHS in England for over 1,000 days, with 25 per cent of patients facing treatment delays.
Treatment should start within 62 days of a referral and the target set is to achieve that for 85 per cent of patients. However, the latest figures for January of this year show that only 76.2 per cent were seen within this time, which is the worst performance since records began.
Figures also show that the last time the target was met was in December 2015 and that it has only been met three times in the last five years.
Leading cancer charities have said the worsening performance was worrying and was putting patients at risk.
Macmillan support line’s Dominic Bell said that the delays were causing real stress.
“I’ve worked on the support line for the last seven years and throughout that time, we’ve taken more and more calls from people going out of their mind with worry while they wait for a diagnosis and treatment.
“Dealing with the prospect or the reality of a cancer diagnosis can be one of the most difficult experiences people will go through in their lifetime.”
Cancer Research UK’s Sara Hiom, said “These figures show an NHS under continued strain, with many patients still waiting too long to get a diagnosis and start treatment.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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