§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the component parts of the national cancer waiting lists as published by the NHS. [75769]
§ Ms BlearsThe NHS cancer plan set out new goals to reduce waiting times for cancer treatment. The ultimate goal is that no one should wait longer than one month from an urgent general practitioner referral for suspected cancer to the beginning of treatment except for a good clinical reason or through patient choice.
The first step in reducing cancer waiting times was the introduction of the two week waiting time standard from urgent general practitioner (GP) referral to out-patient appointment for cases of suspected breast cancer from April 1999. The two week standard was extended to all other urgent cases of suspected cancer during 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. By 2005 the target of a maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to first treatment and a one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for will cover all cancers.
Existing monitoring arrangements cover the two week standard and the December 2001 targets.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning its target to introduce 1,000 new cancer consultants to the NHS by 2006. [75781]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department has received a number of informal representations about the expansion of the cancer workforce. The national cancer director works closely with cancer networks, professional organisations and workforce development confederations to ensure that national decisions about workforce planning reflect the needs of the service. The table shows good progress in increasing the number of doctors working in cancer services. This increase means the national health service is on track to hit the target set out in the cancer plan of nearly 1,000 extra cancer consultants by 2006.
Hospital medical consultants within selected specialties relating to cancer—England Headcount 1999 March 2002 All Cancer specialties 3,360 3,860 Of which Clinical oncology 300 320 Clinical radiology 1,510 1,680 Haematology 510 580 Histopathology 840 960 Medical oncology 110 180 Palliative medicine 90 150 Source:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
659W
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations his Department has received concerning the transparency of cancer fund allocation within NHS health authorities in England and Wales; [75804]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure greater transparency on how public money for cancer is spent; [75775]
(3) what procedures are in place to ensure that funds awarded for cancer services within NHS health authorities in England and Wales are distributed accordingly and not allocated to other areas of health care. [75805]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department and the national cancer director, Professor Mike Richards, have received both formal and informal representations about cancer funding from national health service and voluntary organisations as well as individual clinicians and managers providing cancer care. Professor Richards is working with chief executives of strategic health authorities to ensure that the money gets through to cancer services and that cancer plan targets are met.
We are devolving power from the centre to locally run services, to allow the freedom to innovate and improve care for patients. The increased resources that we have made available and will continue to make available to support the implementation of the cancer plan will move to the NHS frontline. Primary care trusts will have freedom to decide where NHS resources are best spent, but they will need to account publicly for how they have used resources against the test of high clinical standards and good value for money.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning the effectiveness of the peer review teams introduced under the NHS Cancer Plan. [75783]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department has received a number of informal comments about the 2000–01 peer review process. A formal evaluation of the peer review process has been commissioned. Decisions about the future of the process will take all these views into consideration.