“The First Minister said her first priority was to cut NHS waiting times and has promised to list who will be delivering what and when. Over eighteen months ago commitments were also made to improve cancer care in the Cancer Improvement Plan for NHS Wales.
“Despite the announcement today of funding to reduce the longest waiting times, specific plans to reduce cancer waiting times were noticeably absent. We are still waiting for the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, to clearly lay out how he will tackle the completely unacceptable delays in Wales’ cancer services to ensure everyone affected by cancer, no matter who they are or where they live, has access to the support they need.”
“This is simply not good enough and requires urgent action. There are real people behind the figures released today and far too many continue to suffer agonising long waits for the cancer diagnosis and the essential treatment they need.
“If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, we’re here, whatever you need to ask. Call Macmillan’s free support line on 0808 808 00 00, open every day 8am to 8pm or visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk. “
Fact box
- Macmillan’s analysis of today’s official NHS data shows that performance against the national cancer waiting times target in Wales improved slightly in August, however it was still worse than in August of the previous year[i]
- With 2024 currently on track to be the worst year on record, the NHS in Wales is still struggling under enormous pressure[ii]
- The data also shows that between January and August 2024, 6,400 people with cancer in Wales waited more than two months to start treatment following an urgent referral[iii]
- In August alone, nearly 750 people with cancer in Wales waited more than 62 days to start treatment from first being suspected of having cancer — this was over 40% of all those who started treatment in that month[iv]
- Other recent data from Macmillan shows that concerns about long waits and delays have hit new highs among people with cancer in the UK. Two in three people currently having cancer treatment in the UK (66%) are worried about general pressures on the NHS affecting their chances of survival[v], the highest level since Macmillan started tracking this issue in November 2022, and an increase from 59% in January this year during peak winter pressures for the NHS[vi]
- The national cancer waiting times target in Wales has never been met since first being introduced, and an interim recovery target set by the Welsh Government has also been missed[vii]
- For some cancer types, performance remains particularly concerning. For example, in August 2024 only 40% of people with urological cancer started their treatment within 62 days from first being suspected of having cancer, with a similar figure for gynaecological cancer (35%%)[viii]
- Recent Macmillan analysis shows that survival rates for at least two common types of cancer in Wales (colon and rectal cancer in women) are only just now reaching the levels that Sweden and Norway were already achieving in the early 2000s[ix]
- Macmillan’s other new figures also show 70% of people with cancer in the UK are calling for the NHS to reduce long waiting times as a priority — the highest figure since Macmillan started tracking this in March last year[x]
References
[i] Figures based on Suspected Cancer Pathways data from StatsWales, accessed 24th October 2024. In August 2024, 56.5% of people with cancer in Wales (962 out of 1,702) started their first definitive treatment within 62 days of first being suspected of cancer. This was around 1.5% percentage points higher than the previous month and means 740 people in Wales were left waiting too long to start their treatment for cancer in August 2024. In total from January to August 2024, 6,400 people waited more than 62 days to start treatment
[ii] As per ref 1. Equivalent figures for comparison are August 2023: 58.4%.
[iii] As per ref 1
[iv] As per ref 1.
[v] Macmillan Cancer Support/YouGov survey of 2,078 adults in the UK who have had a cancer diagnosis, including 215 people going through treatment. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th and 30th June 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of people living with cancer in the UK (aged 18+). Survey question was as follows: How worried, if at all, are you about the following? ‘General pressures on the NHS affecting my chances of survival’
[vi] Macmillan Cancer Support/YouGov survey of 2,099 adults in the UK who have had a cancer diagnosis, including 213 people going through treatment. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd and 22nd January 2024. All other details as per ref 1
[vii] At least 75% of patients should start treatment within 62 days (without suspensions) of first being suspected of cancer. Data published for time periods before December 2020 are not subject to the target. The Welsh Government’s planned care recovery plan established a new target of 80%, to be reached by 2026. Those targets have never been met, and an interim recovery target that cancer diagnosis and treatment would be undertaken within 62 days for 70% of people by March 2023 was also missed
[viii]As per ref 1
[ix] See this press release for full analysis and sources: Macmillan Cancer Support. UK cancer care ‘stuck in the noughties’. June 2024 (accessed June 2024)
[x] As per ref 2. Question wording was as follows: After early diagnosis and access to treatment… What areas do you think should be prioritised by the NHS in the next year to ensure cancer services meet the needs of patients? (Please select a maximum of three). 70% of all respondents selected ‘Reduce long waiting times for cancer care (e.g. referral to specialist, diagnosis, treatment)’ compared with 61% in a previous Macmillan/YouGov survey carried out in March 2023
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