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NHS Cancer Waiting Times, October 2012

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NHS Cancer Waiting Times Quality Report

This report covers the general principles and processes leading up to the production of our statistics.

NHS Cancer Waiting Times, Quarter ending September 2012

Statistics on time taken from initial diagnosis to beginning of treatment.
The latest National Statistics on Cancer Waiting times produced by the Welsh Government were released on 20 December 2012 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

UK Statistics Authority website Statistics on Cancer waiting times include data for Welsh Local Health Boards (LHBs) for the month ending October 2012. The latest release updates the quarterly statistics previously released on 28 November 2012.

The key points for month ending October 2012 are:

  • 87.0 per cent of patients (434 out of 499) newly diagnosed with cancer via the Urgent Suspected Cancer route started definitive treatment within the target time of 62 days.

Since the quarter ending September 2008, this percentage has been around the low to mid 90s at the end of each quarter. It fell below 90 per cent in the quarters ending June and September 2011, but rose to 90 per cent for the quarters ending December 2011 and March 2012. However, it fell below 90 per cent in the quarters ending June and September 2012.

  • 98.5 per cent of patients (910 out of 924) who were newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route started definitive treatment within the target time of 31 days.

The longer term trend has been fairly static, fluctuating around 98 and 99 per cent since quarter ending September 2007 and generally meeting the target.

  • 5 of the 6 LHBs met the target that at least 98 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route should start definitive treatment within 31 days.  None of the 6 LHBs met the target that at least 95 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer via the Urgent route should start definitive treatment within 62 days.

All figures relating to October 2012 are provisional. Note that there are small numbers in the monthly statistics; therefore care should be taken when interpreting percentages.

To access the data, please go to the StatsWales website. Please note that the data is released monthly via StatsWales on a headline page. On a quarterly basis, we produce a Statistical Release that includes the data for the previous three months, detailed commentary and information on the targets and any revisions.

We also produce a quality report that has information about the methodology, how the data (monthly and quarterly) is released, definitions, information on disclosure and details on how revisions to the data are handled.

Revisions

There have been no revisions to the data for September 2012, published on 28 November 2012.

Further information

StatsWales website.

Contact

Tel: 029 2080 1268
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

23 January 2013