§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards implementing the waiting time targets between referral and treatment by 2005 as outlined in the Cancer Plan; what statistics are published with which to measure progress; and if he will make a statement. [154581]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe primary purpose of the NHS Cancer Plan is to save more lives. Reducing waiting times is key to achieving this. Data on achievement of current milestones towards achievement of the NHS Cancer Plan waiting times targets, for
Number of young people aged 11–15 years admitted to NHS hospitals in England with a selection of alcohol-related primary diagnoses, 1997–98 to 2002–03 Finished Admission Episodes Primary diagnosis 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol1 2,457 2,326 2950 2918 2921 2,760 Alcoholic liver disease2 — — 1 1 — — Toxic effect of alcohol3 895 737 764 739 674 562 Total 3,352 3,063 3,715 3,658 3,595 3,322 ICD 10 codes: 1ICD-1Ocode F1O 2ICD-10code K70 3ICD-10code T51 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls. 3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.