§ Mr. BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the radiotherapy waiting times are for patients categorised as(a) Group 1, (b) Group 2, (c) Group 3, (d) Group 4 and (e) Group 5 for each UK health authority; and what the comparative figures were for 1997. [37907]
§ Yvette CooperThe information requested is not available centrally. The NHS Cancer Plan set out maximum waiting time targets for first cancer treatment which will come into effect over the next few years. Arrangements to monitor these targets are currently being put in place and will cover radiotherapy where this is the first treatment.
From December 2001, there is 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, testicular and acute leukaemia. By 2005, there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.