§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what average length of time patients in each health authority had to wait for radiotherapy cancer treatment in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [127522]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonInformation on waiting times for radiotherapy is not collected centrally. However, the NHS Cancer Plan sets out maximum waiting time 333W targets for first definitive cancer treatment, which includes radiotherapy when it is the first treatment. From December 2001, there is a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. From 2002 there is a maximum two-month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. By 2005 there will be a maximum two months from urgent referral to treatment and a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.
In order to tackle radiotherapy waiting times, we have increased the number of radiographers in post by 9.2 per cent. and numbers in training by 55 per cent. since 1977. We are making better use of existing staff by establishing new roles for radiographers, which
Elective Finished In-Year Admissions, Waiting List and Booked Cases: Finished Consultant Episodes—NHS Hospitals England. 1997–98 to 2001–02 Length of time patient waited 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 More than 3 months 1,134,491 1,307,371 1,147,551 1,133,824 1,155,138 More than 6 months 601,994 723,520 592,752 587,714 604,109 More than 9 months 356,778 445,320 349,472 343,787 354,641 More than 12 months 183,506 245,884 189,565 186,096 188,023 Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health
There is a clear pattern of significant reduction demonstrated in the waiting time in formation at the end of March 2003. Across all the time bands there have been significant reductions in the number of patients waiting compared to March 1997. This reduction is most apparent in the number of over 12 month waiters, where a total of only 103 patients were waiting at the end of March 2003.
Source:
Department of Health form QF01
Notes:
A finished consultant episode is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.
Figures in this table have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data.
Waiting time statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides coutis and waiting times for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment at a given point in time and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the waiting time as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.