AQW 4777/16-21


Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim


Tabled Date: 06/10/2016
Answered On Date: 22/11/2016
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health , pursuant to AQW 3992/16-21, since April 2016 how many (i) urgent breast cancer referrals were seen within 14 days; (ii) what percentage of 98 per cent of patients diagnosed with cancer received their first definitive treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat; and (iii) what percentage of 95 per cent of patients urgently referred with a suspected cancer begin their first definitive treatment within 62 days.


Answer:
(i) Number of patients seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral for suspect cancer in the Northern HSC Trust (April – June 2016)
Total seen
Waited 14 days or less
% seen within 14 days
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
309
322
349
285
322
337
92.2%
100.0%
96.6%
Source: Departmental Return SDR2
(ii) Number of patients who commenced first treatment, for all cancers in the Northern HSC Trust (April – June 2016)
Total treated
Treated within 31 days of a decision to treat
% treated within 31 days
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
114
87
114
96
79
99
84.2%
90.8%
86.8%
Source: Cancer Patient Pathway System (CaPPS)
(iii) Number of patients who commenced first treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, in the Northern HSC Trust (April – June 2016)
Commenced Treatment
Commenced within 62 days of Referral
% within 62 days
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
Apr 2016
May 2016
Jun 2016
65.5
62.5
69.0
45.5
39.0
54.0
69.5%
62.4%
78.3%
Source: Cancer Patient Pathway System (CaPPS)
Information on waiting times for cancer services in relation to the Ministerial target is published quarterly on the Department’s website:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/cancer-waiting-times