§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning the number of cancer patients awaiting radiotherapy treatment but not included on official NHS waiting lists. [75772]
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§ Ms BlearsThe Department has received a number of informal representations about waiting times for radiotherapy. In order to tackle radiotherapy waiting times, we are making unprecedented investment in new radiotherapy facilities, streamlining care processes through the cancer services collaborative and working to best utilise the current workforce and to increase the number of staff in post and in training.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning the effectiveness of new systems for logging data relating to cancer treatment introduced under the NHS cancer plan; and if he will make a statement on these systems. [75784]
§ Ms BlearsNo representations have been received. Monitoring the national health service cancer plan targets robustly and effectively requires the ability to track information across the patient pathway of care, from urgent general practitioner referral for suspected cancer, to their first definitive treatment. The Department, in collaboration with the NHS information authority, is developing a national database so that this data can be collated nationally and locally. The database is currently undergoing user testing in the NHS prior to general introduction.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the waiting list for breast cancer was for each month since September 2002; and how many breast cancer patients were tested to ascertain their suitability for a NICE-approved treatment for each of these months; [75796]
(2) what the waiting lists for breast cancer were for each month since September 2000; and how many (a) prostrate, (b) ovarian and (c) lung cancer patients were tested to ascertain their suitability for a NICE-approved treatment in each of these months; [75797]
(3) what the waiting lists for breast cancer were for each month since September 2000; and how many leukaemia patients were tested to ascertain their suitability for a NICE-approved treatment in each of these months. [75798]
§ Ms BlearsData on waiting lists for breast, leukaemia, prostate, ovarian and lung cancer for each month since September 2000 are not collected centrally.
The cancer plan sets out waiting times targets for cancer treatment that will be implemented over the next five years. By 2005, all cancer patients will wait a maximum of one month from diagnosis to treatment and a maximum of two months from urgent general practitioner referral to treatment. We are currently developing systems to monitor performance against this target.
In addition, a new target of one month from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer was introduced in December 2001. Central monitoring of performance against this target began in January 2002 with data being collected quarterly. The table shows quarterly performance against this target.
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Breast cancer one month from diagnosis to treatment Percentage Quarter 4 2001–02 94.2 Quarter 1 2002–03 94.4 The Department does not collect information about the suitability of patients for specific treatments. The responsibility for arranging tests and deciding what treatment is best for the patient rests with the clinicians concerned. This is done in consultation with the patient and is informed by the patient's clinical history. Relevant guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence would also be taken into account. Discussions between patients and clinicians about suitable treatments are confidential.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the number of people diagnosed with lung cancer since 1992; and how this compares with other(a) Commonwealth and (b) EU countries; [75834]
(2) what assessment he has made of the number of people diagnosed with leukaemia since 1992; and how this compares with other (a)Commonwealth and (b) EU countries; [75832]
(3) what assessment he has made of the number of people diagnosed with (a) breast cancer, (b) ovarian cancer, (c) leukaemia, (d) prostate cancer and (e) lung cancer since 1992; and how this compares with other (i) Commonwealth and (ii) EU countries; [75831]
(4) what assessment he has made of the number of people diagnosed with prostate cancer since 1992; and how this compares with other (a) Commonwealth and (b) EU countries. [75833]
§ Ruth KellyI have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Gregory Barker, dated 28 October 2002:
658WAs National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions concerning what assessment has made of the number of people diagnosed with various types of cancer since 1992; and how these figures compares with other (i) Commonwealth and (ii) EU countries. (75831,75832, 75833, 75834).Figures on the numbers of people diagnosed with cancers of the breast, lung, ovary and prostate, and leukaemia in the EU countries can be found on the EUCAN database. This database contains information for the latest year for which cancer incidence, mortality and population data are available in the 15 Member States of the European Union; at present the latest data available are for 1997. The EUCAN database is available on the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) website at:Comparable data for the Commonwealth countries can be found on the GLOBOCAN database. The GLOBOCAN 2000 database contains estimates of cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide for 2000. The GLOBOCAN 2000 database is also available on the IARC website (at the same address).Figures for the UK are included on both of these databases in the format which allows comparison with other countries.