AQW 13164/22-27
Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down
Tabled Date: 10/06/2024
Answered On Date: 24/06/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail his plans to reduce waiting times for cancer treatment in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
Answer:
The Department continues to work with all Trusts to reduce the current waiting time for cancer treatments. In the first quarter of 2024/25 non-recurrent funding has been allocated to Trusts to support additional waiting list initiative work, using both inhouse and independent sector capacity. In addition, the Department continues to facilitate the equalisation and reduction of waiting times through the inter-Trust transfer of patients. The Strategic Planning and Performance Group of DOH meet quarterly with trust colleagues to review performance against 14-day breast, 31 and 62 targets/pathways to maximise on efficiencies within current service provision. Trusts also provide Cancer Performance Optimisation Plans. These plans are intended to reduce variation in practice, reduce variation in waiting times, maximising workforce capacity and skill mix, thereby optimising capacity and productivity within core service provision. In 23/24, the South Easter Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) experienced a 10% increase in referrals compared to 2022/23. SEHSCT continues to work with Primary Care to ensure that patients are referred appropriately. Recently, GP events have been delivered and were well attended and well received. SEHSCT recognises the absolute priority of reducing cancer waiting times and works continuously to improve these using all parts of its multi-professional team. The following list is by no means exhaustive but highlights some of the many examples of actions that SEHSCT is currently taking to reduce the waiting times for patients: Bi-weekly Director-led cancer-focused improvement group established in 2024 to develop and monitor action plans and mitigations specifically in regard to reducing the waiting time between referral and first outpatient appointment. Working with specialties to implement enhanced triage to reduce the demand for red flag services. Review of specialty capacity to ensure maximisation of red flag slots in clinic, including utilising virtual clinics where appropriate. Implementation of seasonal templates to manage predicted increases in demand. Utilising non-recurrent funding to provide additional outpatient and diagnostic capacity via Waiting List Initiatives and Independent Sector (IS) clinics. Trust inclusion in the Vague Symptom Pathway to commence in summer 2024 as part of the NI Cancer Strategy programme. Where appropriate, instigating direct to test pathways to accelerate decision making relating to diagnosis of cancer The Trust has also implemented a number of innovative service developments focused on improving diagnosis and treatment pathways: Transurethral laser ablation (TULA) has recently been set up. The mole mapping service has been running for 18 months and is diagnosing patients earlier. Further development of advanced endoscopic techniques for polyp excision, including full-thickness endoscopic resection. Photo triage implemented in dermatology. Importantly, once diagnosed, 95% of patients start treatment within 31 days of their decision to treat.
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