§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve waiting times from referral by a GP to treatment for cancer services. [133892]
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§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 27 October 2003]: The NHS Cancer Plan sets out our strategy to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. A two-week outpatient waiting time standard was introduced in 2000 for all urgent general practitioner referrals of suspected cancer. In the last quarter—April to June 2003–98.5 per cent. of urgent GP referrals for suspected cancer were seen by a specialist within two weeks. By 2005, there will be targets of a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment and a maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers. Progress towards these targets is being achieved through increased investment, additional staffing levels, installing new radiotherapy and diagnostic facilities and streamlining care processes through the cancer services collaborative.