The Department of Health today published the NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics Release for July, August and September 2020.
The release gives details of the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals during July, August and September 2020.
Key facts and figures are listed below:
Waiting times for first treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62 day target)
- In September 2020, 368 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following an urgent referral for suspect cancer. Of these, 60.3% (222 patients) started treatment within 62 days, compared with 58.0% (204 of the 352 patients) in August, 61.7% (219 of the 355 patients) in July and 48.2% (188 of the 390 patients) in September 2019.
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following a decision to treat (31 day target)
- During September 2020, 875 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following a decision to treat being taken. Of these, 95.1% (832) started treatment within 31 days, compared with 94.8% (697 of the 735 patients) in August, 96.3% (758 of the 787 patients) in July and 91.4% (831 of the 909 patients) in September 2019.
Patients first seen following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer (14 day target)
- During September 2020, 1,342 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist for a first assessment following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer. Of these, 81.9% (1,099) were seen within 14 days, compared with 91.3% (948 of the 1,038 patients) in August, 95.8% (1,287 of the 1,344 patients) in July and 95.8% (1,173 of the 1,224 patients) in September 2019.
Referrals for suspect breast cancer
- In September 2020, 2,042 new referrals for suspect breast cancer were received; this compares to 1,599 in August, 1,758 in July and 2,087 in September 2019. Referrals for suspect breast cancer can be for advice, assessment or both.
- Of those new referrals for suspect breast cancer in September 2020, 1,493 (73.1%) were classified as urgent.
Notes to editors:
1. All statistical publications relating to cancer waiting times are available on the Department's website.
2. About the data
- The sources for the data contained in this release are the Cancer Patient Pathway System (CaPPS) and the Patient Administration System (PAS).
- Figures also include all patients living outside Northern Ireland and privately funded patients seen or treated in Health and Social Care hospitals in Northern Ireland.
- Data include all returns and amendments received from HSC Trusts up to 16 December 2020.
3. Ministerial Target for Cancer Waiting Times
The draft 2020/21 Ministerial target has three components associated with cancer waiting times:
- The Ministerial Target on waiting times for treatment following an urgent referral for suspect cancer states that, ‘During 2020/21, 95% of patients urgently referred with a suspect cancer should begin their treatment within 62 days’.
- The Ministerial Target on waiting times for cancer treatment following a decision to treat states that, ‘During 2020/21, at least 98% of patients diagnosed with cancer should receive their first definitive treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat’.
- The Ministerial Target on waiting times for a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist states that, ‘During 2020/21, all urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within 14 days’.
4. Definition of Waiting Times for Treatment following an urgent referral for Suspect Cancer
- These data relate to patients who received a first definitive treatment for cancer (having been given an ‘International Classification of Diseases 10’ (ICD 10) diagnosis) during each of the three months covered in the publication, following an urgent referral for suspect cancer from a General Practitioner or a routine GP referral that has subsequently been reclassified as urgent by a cancer specialist. Data for all cancers are included with the exception of basal cell carcinoma. Referrals from sources other than a GP, routine referrals and patients who have not been given an ICD 10 diagnosis are excluded.
- The completed waiting time is measured from the date an initial urgent GP referral for suspect cancer is received by the Provider HSC Trust and ends on the date the patient receives their first treatment for cancer. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling or self-deferring treatment or as a result of suspension for either medical or social reasons.
5. Definition of Waiting Times for Treatment following a Decision to Treat for cancer
- These data relate to all patients who received a first definitive treatment for cancer (having been given an ICD 10 diagnosis) during each of the three months covered in the publication, irrespective of their source or type of referral. Data include treatment for all cancers, with the exception of basal cell carcinoma. Patients that have not been given an ICD 10 diagnosis are excluded.
- The completed waiting time is measured from the date a decision is taken to treat a patient for cancer and ends on the date that the patient receives their first definitive treatment for cancer. The decision to treat is the date on which the patient and the clinician agree the planned treatment. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling or self deferring treatment or as a result of suspension for either medical or social reasons.
6. Definition of Waiting Times for a First Assessment with a Breast Cancer Specialist
- These data relate to urgent referrals (excluding those that have been reclassified as routine by the breast cancer specialist) and include routine referrals that have subsequently been reclassified as urgent by a breast cancer specialist.
- The completed waiting time is measured from the date an initial breast cancer referral is first received by the Provider HSC Trust, and ends on the date that the patient attends their first outpatient appointment with a breast cancer specialist. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling, self-deferring or failing to attend a first outpatient appointment.
7. Number of referrals for suspect breast cancer
- Data relate solely to patients who were referred with suspect breast cancer during each month. All sources of referral irrespective of their source of referral are included i.e. urgent and routine referrals from both General Practitioners and other medical professionals. Referrals for suspect breast cancer can be for advice, assessment or both.
- Information on new suspect breast cancer referrals provided by HSC Trusts is not National Statistics but has been validated and quality assured by HSC Trusts prior to publication. Currently the Department is in the process of refining validation processes for these data, which should therefore be treated with caution. However, they have been published to help provide users with some contextual information in relation to the Ministerial Target relating to breast cancer waiting times.
8. The format of this report will change for the July – September 2020 publication. The report will contain all of the same information, however the design will include more user-friendly charts. A mock of this report can be found on the Department's website.
9. Users should be aware that the Covid-19 Pandemic drastically altered the functions of hospitals during the current reporting period and should exercise caution when using these data given that hospital records may not be fully updated at this time.
10. This information was collated by Hospital Information Branch, DoH.
Further information is available from:
Hospital Information Branch
Department of Health
Annex 2, Castle Buildings,
Stormont, BT4 3SQ
Telephone: 028 9076 5725
E-mail: Statistics@health-ni.gov.uk
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