§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for cancer radiotherapy(a) in England and (b) across Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust was during (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04. [179426]
1338W
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonData on waiting times for radiotherapy are not collected centrally. The NHS Cancer Plan set out maximum waiting time targets for cancer treatment, which may include radiotherapy where this is given as a first definitive 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 month wait from urgent referral to treatment and a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.
To tackle radiotherapy waiting times we are increasing the numbers of therapy radiographers in post and in training, making better use of existing staff, making unprecedented investment in new radiotherapy equipment, and streamlining the patient journey.