§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is made available on current waiting times for treatment for types of cancer; and what plans he has to publish such information in the future. [84969]
§ Ms BlearsThe NHS Cancer Plan set out new goals to reduce waiting times for cancer treatment. The first step in reducing cancer waiting times was the introduction of the two week waiting time standard from urgent general practitioner referral to outpatient appointment for cases of suspected breast cancer from April 1999 and for all urgent cases of suspected cancer from 2000.
From December 2001 targets of a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month maximum wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia were introduced. From December 2002, there will be a maximum two month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for patients with breast cancer. By 2005 there will be a maximum two month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment and a one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.
Existing monitoring arrangements and published data cover the two week standard and the December 2001 targets. Data will be published on further Cancer Plan targets as data collection is rolled out. Data are published on the Department website.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources have been allocated to the implementation of the two week waiting time target for referral of patients with(a) breast cancer, (b) prostate cancer and (c) other types of cancer. [84972]
§ Ms Blears£10 million was made available for each of the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 to support implementation of the two week outpatient waiting time standard. From 2001–02 the additional £10 million was put into health authority baseline financial allocations. An additional £30 million was also made available for each of the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 to further support the two week standard and the modernisation of cancer services. The additional 175W funding was not identified for individual tumour types. It is for health authorities to identify their priorities and target resources appropriately, in this case towards meeting the two week standard.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients in NHS units in Chesham and Amersham waited longer than(a) four and (b) 24 hours in accident and emergency in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion they were of the total; [81199]
(2) if he will make a statement on progress on reducing waiting lists at NHS units in the Chesham and Amersham constituency; [81195]
(3) if he will make a statement on progress on visiting times for accident and emergency services at NHS units in the Chesham and Amersham constituency. [81193]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 19 November 2002]: Action continues to be taken to improve waiting times in the accident and emergency department of Wycombe General Hospital, which is the main provider of accident and emergency services to the people of Chesham and Amersham. The chief executive of South 176W Buckinghamshire National Health Service Trust has personally led the Reforming Emergency Care agenda, with support from Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority's service improvement managers and the Modernisation Agency.
Quarterly data relating to waiting times in accident and emergency departments will be published for the first time shortly. Data on total time in accident and emergency will be published for the second quarter of 2002–03.
I am advised by Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority that South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust has been performing well. Waiting time figures at April 2002 showed a reduction of 6.8 per cent. from the previous year. Currently the trust is performing above target in this area.