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 NHS cancer standards

 
 

 

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The Government White Paper "The new NHS - Modern, Dependable" guaranteed that everyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within 2 weeks of their GP deciding that they need to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment. Standards to reduce waiting times for cancer treatment were published in October 2000.

Your practice has had the systems and contacts in place to deliver the 2 week initiative for quite some time. On 22nd August 2000, we finally received the referral forms that we have to complete for referrals under this initiative. We fax the referral to the appropriate hospital unit and also send a copy by post in case the fax message goes astray. Referral under this initiative does NOT mean you have cancer but the possibility of cancer needs to be excluded as soon as possible.

The implementation dates vary according to the type of cancer that may be present.

bulletApril 1999    Breast cancer
bulletApril 2000    Lung cancer, Childrens' cancers, Leukaemia
bulletJuly 2000    Upper and lower gastrointestinal cancers
bulletOctober 2000    Gynaecological cancers, skin cancers, Brain and central nervous system cancers
bulletDecember 2000    All other cancers including urological, head and neck, sarcomas, haematological malignancies other than leukaemia.

The next phase will then be reducing the time from diagnosis to treatment. The government announced these standards in October 2000.

bulletMaximum 1 month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment guaranteed for childrens' and testicular cancers and acute leukaemia by 2001.
bulletMaximum 1 month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer by 2001.
bulletMaximum 1 month wait from diagnosis to treatment for all cancers by 2005.
bulletMaximum 2 months wait from urgent GP referral to treatment guaranteed for breast cancer by 2002.
bulletMaximum 2 months wait from urgent GP referral to treatment guaranteed for all cancers by 2005.

Extra funding is being provided for increase in consultant posts, 250 new scanners and 26 linear accelerator radiotherapy units. The Royal College of Radiologists welcomed the extra funding but pointed out that 100 of these units would be required to fulfil the suggested targets. 

 

 
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