Cancer patient waiting 'blackspots'

The early diagnosis of breast cancers saves lives

The majority of patients with suspected cancer see a specialist within two weeks - but some areas are performing poorly, a report finds.

Government targets mean that since 2000, patients should be seen inside a fortnight regardless of what type of cancer they have.

Getting swift diagnosis and treatment plays an important role in successful treatment for some cancers.

The latest figures for England reveal that overall, 90% of those whose urgent referral letters are sent off promptly by GPs get to see a consultant within the time limit.

National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards said that the figures represented a significant improvement since the government introduced its "fast-track" policy for suspected cancer.

Letter delay

However, if the referral letter is not received by the hospital within 24 hours, far fewer get seen quickly.

And in some health authority areas, for some specialties, local problems are causing huge delays for patients.

For example, only 57% of patients with suspected breast cancer living within the Northumberland Health Authority area get prompt help from a specialist.

This is despite a two year drive to speed up breast cancer referrals.

Cancer waits - English blackspots (% of patients seen within 14 days)

Lung - North Staffordshire HA (28.7%)

Skin - Morecombe Bay HA (48.7%)

Gynaecological - Northants HA (55.6%)

Urological - Herefordshire HA (28.6%)

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority also performs poorly - the two-week deadline is met in only 62% of breast cancer cases.

For other cancers, there are some health authorities who are clearly failing to deliver prompt appointments to patients who fear they have cancer.

Having suspected prostate, bladder or kidney cancer in Herefordshire means a wait of more than a fortnight for a consultant appointment in all but 29% of cases.

Only just over half of suspected cervical, endometrial or ovarian cancer patients meet this mark in Northamptonshire.

If you fear you have lung cancer in North Staffordshire, the figures suggest you have only a 28% chance of being one of those seen inside two weeks.

And remarkably, Gloucestershire Health Authority managed to get precisely none of its patients with suspected blood cancers such as leukaemia into a consultant's clinic within 14 days.

Health Minister Lord Hunt said that overall, the figures were "encouraging".

He said: "Patients want to be seen quickly - that is why dramatically improving cancer diagnosis and treatment and speeding up the time it takes for patients to be seen are priorities for this Government.

"We are determined to meet these targets but we know that we will need more doctors, more nurses, better equipment and modern methods of working."

Waiting lists

The latest monthly figures released by the government confirmed the relatively unchanged face of NHS waiting compared to a year ago.

There were 0.2% fewer patients waiting to be admitted to NHS hospitals in July 2001 than in July 2000.