HC Deb 02 September 2003 vol 410 cc4-5W
Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest average waiting time is from referral to(a) imaging treatment, (b) endoscopy treatment and (c) radiotherapy treatment for NHS cancer patients. [126990]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data are not collected centrally on waiting times for scans, endoscopy or radiotherapy treatment. The length of time that a patient may have to wait is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, dependent on the clinical priority of all patients waiting to be treated.

Where these procedures form part of the pathway for cancer patients the NHS Cancer Plan set out maximum waiting time targets for first definitive cancer treatment. From 2001, there was a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month wait from urgent referral to first treatment for children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. From 2002, there was a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. By 2005, there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to first treatment and a maximum two months from urgent referral to first treatment for all cancers. Performance data on current cancer waiting times targets are published on the Departments website at www.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits.