English Hospitals Fail Cancer Targets – NHS League Tables
- * Cancer Targets not Being Met: A notable number of NHS trusts in England are failing to meet key cancer targets.
Here’s a summary of the key information from the provided text:
* Cancer Targets not Being Met: A notable number of NHS trusts in England are failing to meet key cancer targets.
* 28-Day Diagnosis Target: Less than 80% of patients are having cancer ruled in or out within 28 days of an urgent referral.
* 62-Day Treatment Target: 73% of trusts (86 out of 118) are failing to start treatment within 62 days for 75% of patients.
* Consequences of Delays: delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to worse patient outcomes, fewer treatment options, and increased mortality. Cancer is a leading cause of death in the UK.
* Expert Concerns: Cancer experts are deeply alarmed by these findings, calling it a “national emergency” and stating that delays are costing lives.
* Specific Concerns for Certain Cancers: Delays are particularly critical for less survivable cancers (brain, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas, and stomach) which have a low five-year survival rate (16%).
* Worst Performing Trust: Mid and South Essex NHS foundation trust is the worst performer, with only 42.2% of patients starting treatment within two months and 59.2% receiving a diagnosis within 28 days.
* Call for Action: Experts are urging the government and NHS to take immediate action to address the crisis and improve cancer diagnosis and treatment times.