AQW 4777/16-21 Written question to the Minister of Health
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.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 6 October 2016
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 6 October 2016
- Answer due by
- 21 October 2016
- Answered
- 22 November 201647 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
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