Welsh Government criticised for failing to meet cancer waiting time targets

The Welsh Government has come under fire for what critics have labelled “woefully inadequate” progress in reducing cancer waiting times.

Figures released on Thursday (23 January) reveal that in November, only 60 per cent of cancer patients in Wales began treatment within 62 days of being suspected of having cancer.

This marks a slight improvement from 58 per cent in October but remains significantly below the national target of 75 per cent.

Alarmingly, no health board in Wales has met the 75 per cent target since August 2020.

A recent Audit Wales report painted a grim picture of cancer services in Wales, which has the second-highest cancer mortality rate in the UK after Scotland.

The report highlighted significant disparities, with survival rates being worse for people living in deprived areas compared to more affluent regions.

Patients with certain cancers, including lower gastrointestinal, gynaecological, and urological cancers, face some of the longest delays. Some wait over 100 days to start treatment.

Kate Seymour, Head of External Affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support, criticised the government, stating: “Despite a slight improvement in waiting times, progress in Wales remains woefully inadequate.”

Data from the charity revealed that in November, more than 700 cancer patients in Wales waited too long to begin treatment. Between January and November 2024, over 8,800 patients waited longer than two months after an urgent referral.

“We must not forget that behind these figures are real people facing agonising delays,” Seymour said. “We urgently need the Welsh Government to implement the Cancer Improvement Plan and clarify how the new National Cancer Leadership Board will tackle these unacceptable delays. People in Wales with cancer deserve better.”

Ministerial Response

Health Minister Jeremy Miles MS acknowledged that cancer patients are “waiting too long to be seen and treated.” Speaking during a visit to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Miles admitted that the current performance was unacceptable but pointed to initiatives aimed at improvement.

“There are positive signs in the figures overall. For example, there is a new rapid chemotherapy service here in Wrexham Maelor,” he said. “We want to see those figures reach 75 per cent and eventually 80 per cent, but we know there is much work to do.”

StatsWales data highlights a stark divide in performance across health boards. In November, only 52.1 per cent of patients in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board began treatment within 62 days, compared to 66.8 per cent in Cardiff and Vale and 66 per cent in Swansea Bay.

Commenting on the figures, Miles said: “That is not the level we want to see. People in North Wales deserve access to faster treatment. The overall picture across Wales is improving, but there is still a significant challenge in the north.”

Calls for a North Wales Cancer Centre

The debate over unequal access to services was raised in the Senedd, where Janet Finch Saunders MS highlighted the excellence of Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre. She suggested North Wales might benefit from a similar facility to address regional disparities.

The Minister responded: “We want to ensure people across Wales have access to the treatment they need. In North Wales, there have been challenges, particularly in dermatology, which has impacted cancer waiting times. A new contract has been in place for the last few weeks, which we expect to improve performance.”

Miles added that services vary across Wales due to population density and other factors but stressed the importance of ensuring all areas have access to the care they need.

Asked about the feasibility of increasing the target to 80 per cent when the current 75 per cent target remains unmet, the Minister said: “We must ensure the system hits the targets. While the overall performance is poor, some cancer types in certain areas are already achieving 80 or 90 per cent. The challenge is ensuring consistency across the board.”

Miles outlined the role of the newly established National Cancer Leadership Board in streamlining initiatives and providing a clearer sense of direction for cancer services. “There is a huge amount of activity happening in the system, but we need to align it better to improve outcomes for patients,” he explained.

The Minister also referenced recommendations from the Audit Wales report, which called for improved accountability within the NHS. “All health board chairs are accountable to me for the targets we set. I meet them very regularly, at least once a month, and cancer always features in those discussions.”

Miles emphasised the importance of the NHS Executive in supporting health boards and ensuring clear lines of accountability.