The Department of Health today published the NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics Release for October, November and December 2020.
The release gives details of the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals during October, November and December 2020.
Key facts and figures are listed below:
Waiting times for first treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer (62 day target)
- In December 2020, 333 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following an urgent referral for suspect cancer. Of these, 55.3% (184 patients) started treatment within 62 days, compared with 53.2% (206 of the 387 patients) in November, 59.4% (224 of the 377 patients) in October and 49.9% (175 of the 351 patients) in December 2019.
Waiting times for first definitive treatment following a decision to treat (31 day target)
- During December 2020, 792 patients commenced their first treatment for cancer following a decision to treat being taken. Of these, 93.4% (740) started treatment within 31 days, compared with 93.1% (778 of the 836 patients) in November, 96.6% (795 of the 823 patients) in October and 93.7% (759 of the 810 patients) in December 2019.
Patients first seen following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer (14 day target)
- During December 2020, 1,499 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist for a first assessment following an urgent referral for suspect breast cancer. Of these, 62.2% (933) were seen within 14 days, compared with 46.8% (709 of the 1,514 patients) in November, 70.5% (947 of the 1,343 patients) in October and 88.5% (903 of the 1,020 patients) in December 2019.
Referrals for suspect breast cancer
- In December 2020, 1,848 new referrals for suspect breast cancer were received; this compares to 2,117 in November, 2,334 in October and 1,518 in December 2019. Referrals for suspect breast cancer can be for advice, assessment or both.
- Of those new referrals for suspect breast cancer in December 2020, 1,350 (73.1%) were classified as urgent.
Notes to editors:
1. All statistical publications relating to cancer waiting times are available on the Department's website.
2. About the data
- The sources for the data contained in this release are the Cancer Patient Pathway System (CaPPS) and the Patient Administration System (PAS).
- Figures also include all patients living outside Northern Ireland and privately funded patients seen or treated in Health and Social Care hospitals in Northern Ireland.
- Data include all returns and amendments received from HSC Trusts up to 18 March 2021.
3. Ministerial Target for Cancer Waiting Times
The draft 2020/21 Ministerial target has three components associated with cancer waiting times:
- The Ministerial Target on waiting times for treatment following an urgent referral for suspect cancer states that, ‘During 2020/21, 95% of patients urgently referred with a suspect cancer should begin their treatment within 62 days’.
- The Ministerial Target on waiting times for cancer treatment following a decision to treat states that, ‘During 2020/21, at least 98% of patients diagnosed with cancer should receive their first definitive treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat’.
- The Ministerial Target on waiting times for a first assessment with a breast cancer specialist states that, ‘During 2020/21, all urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within 14 days’.
4. Definition of Waiting Times for Treatment following an urgent referral for Suspect Cancer
- These data relate to patients who received a first definitive treatment for cancer (having been given an ‘International Classification of Diseases 10’ (ICD 10) diagnosis) during each of the three months covered in the publication, following an urgent referral for suspect cancer from a General Practitioner or a routine GP referral that has subsequently been reclassified as urgent by a cancer specialist. Data for all cancers are included with the exception of basal cell carcinoma. Referrals from sources other than a GP, routine referrals and patients who have not been given an ICD 10 diagnosis are excluded.
- The completed waiting time is measured from the date an initial urgent GP referral for suspect cancer is received by the Provider HSC Trust and ends on the date the patient receives their first treatment for cancer. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling or self-deferring treatment or as a result of suspension for either medical or social reasons.
5. Definition of Waiting Times for Treatment following a Decision to Treat for cancer
- These data relate to all patients who received a first definitive treatment for cancer (having been given an ICD 10 diagnosis) during each of the three months covered in the publication, irrespective of their source or type of referral. Data include treatment for all cancers, with the exception of basal cell carcinoma. Patients that have not been given an ICD 10 diagnosis are excluded.
- The completed waiting time is measured from the date a decision is taken to treat a patient for cancer and ends on the date that the patient receives their first definitive treatment for cancer. The decision to treat is the date on which the patient and the clinician agree the planned treatment. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling or self deferring treatment or as a result of suspension for either medical or social reasons.
6. Definition of Waiting Times for a First Assessment with a Breast Cancer Specialist
- These data relate to urgent referrals (excluding those that have been reclassified as routine by the breast cancer specialist) and include routine referrals that have subsequently been reclassified as urgent by a breast cancer specialist.
- The completed waiting time is measured from the date an initial breast cancer referral is first received by the Provider HSC Trust, and ends on the date that the patient attends their first outpatient appointment with a breast cancer specialist. Adjustments are made to the completed waiting time in the event of a patient cancelling, self-deferring or failing to attend a first outpatient appointment.
7. Number of referrals for suspect breast cancer
- Data relate solely to patients who were referred with suspect breast cancer during each month. All sources of referral irrespective of their source of referral are included i.e. urgent and routine referrals from both General Practitioners and other medical professionals. Referrals for suspect breast cancer can be for advice, assessment or both.
- Information on new suspect breast cancer referrals provided by HSC Trusts is not National Statistics but has been validated and quality assured by HSC Trusts prior to publication. Currently the Department is in the process of refining validation processes for these data, which should therefore be treated with caution. However, they have been published to help provide users with some contextual information in relation to the Ministerial Target relating to breast cancer waiting times.
8. Users should be aware that the Covid-19 Pandemic drastically altered the functions of hospitals during the current reporting period and should exercise caution when using these data given that hospital records may not be fully updated at this time.
9. This information was collated by Hospital Information Branch, DoH.
Further information is available from:
Hospital Information Branch,
Department of Health
Annex 2, Castle Buildings,
Stormont, BT4 3SQ
Telephone: 028 9076 5725
E-mail: Statistics@health-ni.gov.uk
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