Rising inequality in Wales’ cancer system amid growing pressure on health service, warns leading charity
Wales’ cancer system is at growing risk of inequality amid increasing pressure on the health service, leading charity has warned.
Macmillan Cancer Support made the comments after new data highlighted the disparity in treatment waiting times for people living with some types of cancer.
In August half of people with urological cancer had to wait at least 87 days or more for their treatment to begin from the point their cancer was first suspected.
Just 39 per cent of people with urological cancer started their treatment on time.
However during August there was an overall improvement in cancer waiting times, with 57.3 per cent of patients starting their cancer treatment within 62 days.
This is the best performance since March 2023.
But this is still well below the Welsh Government target of patients starting treatment within 62 days of first being suspected of cancer
The charity also warns that while any improvement in waiting times must be welcomed, the significant challenges of additional winter demands and expected NHS budget pressures are all set to potentially impact on cancer treatment in the future.
Responding to the latest cancer treatment waiting times data, Glenn Page, Macmillan Policy Manager for Wales said: “This data shows a welcome improvement, at a time when Wales cannot afford to take a single step backwards when it comes to providing the timely, high-quality care that people with cancer need.
“But this improvement must not mask the fact that in August – a month free of the additional pressures of winter – more than 750 people with cancer still faced devastating delays in their care.
“As we head into the winter period and continue to work against a backdrop of increasing cancer referrals, the Welsh Government must protect cancer services from budgetary pressures and improve support for people living with cancer.
“Urgent action is also needed from Welsh Government to tackle inequalities in cancer waiting times, with an unrelenting focus on improving things for those facing the longest waits.
“In August, half of people with urological cancer had to wait at least 87 days or more for treatment to start from when their cancer was first suspected. That is simply not acceptable.
“Urgency is now needed from Welsh Government to not only deliver on the target that at least 75% of people will be treated within 62 days, but to ensure that treatment waiting times, for all cancer types, see an equal improvement in the future.”
Macmillan recently launched its ‘What are we waiting for?’ campaign to speak up for people affected by treatment delays, by calling on all governments in the UK to take urgent action to reduce cancer treatment waiting times.
People can find out how to take action and join the charity’s cancer treatment waiting times campaign by visiting macmillan.org.uk/whatarewewaitingfor.
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