NHS could scrap need for suspected cancer patients to see specialist within two weeks

NHS England’s two week target for suspected cancer patients to see a specialist could be scrapped under new plans. 

It could be replaced with a new ‘faster diagnostics standard’, where patients who have been urgently referred should be diagnosed in 28 days — or have the disease ruled out. 

Health chiefs said the current two-week goal sets no expectation of when patients should be given the all-clear or told they have cancer.  

The NHS said the proposals, which comes just a month after Sajid Javid declared a ‘national war on cancer’ in a bid to improve Britain’s survival rate for the disease, are based on recommendations of an independent taskforce. 

Cancer Research UK claimed it should lead to improvements in diagnosis times but called for a plan to boost the workforce. 

However, Breast Cancer Now admitted it was disappointed that NHS England had watered down the ambitions of the Independent Cancer Taskforce (ICT) report. 

‘The ICT recommended the ambition should be for 95 per cent of people to be diagnosed with cancer, or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of urgent referral by 2020,’ said Baroness Delyth Morgan, of Breast Cancer Now. 

‘We’re deeply concerned NHS England has significantly lowered its ambition for rapid diagnosis by setting the target for the new Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) at 75 per cent by March 2024.’  

Other new proposed cancer targets include for patients who receive a cancer diagnosis to start treatment within nine weeks from the date of their referral, dubbed a 62-day referral to treatment standard.

Finally cancer patients should receive their first treatment within a month of a decision to treat following their diagnosis.  

The NHS argues that the proposed new standards would help diagnose more cancers earlier and save more lives.

At present there are nine cancer performance targets which span three broad areas.

These include a two-week wait from a GP referral to the first consultant appointment.

Then there should only be a one-month wait for care once a decision has been made to offer treatment for cancer such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

And in total there should only be a two-month wait from an urgent GP referral to a first treatment of cancer.

The NHS is supposed to meet a certain threshold for each target, for instance at least 85 per cent of patients should start a first treatment for cancer within two months (62 days) of an urgent GP referral when cancer has been suspected.

But some of these targets have not been met for years. 

In December just 67 per cent of patients received their first treatment in this time frame. 

And while the NHS aims for 93 per cent of patients to be seen by a specialist within two weeks after being referred by a GP, the latest figures show that only 79 per cent were in December.

The latest set of NHS cancer treatment figures are due to be published on Thursday.

Under the new proposals, the Faster Diagnosis Standard will have an ‘initial performance threshold of 75 per cent’.

Cancer Research UK said that it would like to see a 95 per cent target in the future.

The other measures do not appear to have set targets and will be ironed out after the consultation.

Dame Cally Palmer, NHS national director for cancer, said: ‘Access standards have been key to improving timeliness of treatment for people with cancer since they were first introduced in 2000.

‘As we see advances in diagnosis and treatments for cancer, it is only right that these standards are modernised – so that we can ensure patients are diagnosed more quickly and are given the treatment they need as soon as possible, helping us save even more lives.

‘These proposed changes are an important part of improving cancer care and so from today, the NHS will be inviting views from patients, staff and the public.’

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘The new Faster Diagnosis Standard is a more meaningful target than the current two-week wait that will hopefully improve early diagnosis.

‘If all trusts met the 75 per cent target, it would be an improvement to where we are now.’

‘However, in the long-term to improve cancer survival, we’d like to see a 95 per cent target originally proposed in the 2015 cancer strategy in Sajid Javid’s upcoming 10-year plan for cancer.

‘We recognise the target was set lower because of a shortage of cancer specialists, critical to diagnosing cancer across the NHS.

‘The Government must provide the extra investment they have promised to grow the NHS workforce. Every moment of delay risks more people waiting for diagnosis and treatment.’  

But when asked about workforce, Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested on Tuesday that there would be no new cash to tackle workforce shortages.

Mr Javid said that he would set out a 10-year cancer plan later this year.

Commenting on the new standards, he said: ‘These proposals will help us speed up diagnosis times and treatment, and save more lives.

‘The NHS wants to hear from as many people as possible – and is seeking advice from patients, staff and the public. Please, make your voices heard.’     

Currently about a third of newly-diagnosed cancer patients in England have to wait more than two months for urgent treatment, official data has shown.

The NHS consultation on cancer targets will run for four weeks.