'14-day / Two-week wait'
England meets the standard for their country on the percentage of patients first seen by a specialist within two weeks of urgent GP referral for suspected cancer.[1]
'Two-week wait' supports early diagnosis as spotting cancer early is important for improving survival, so it is important that patients with potential cancer symptoms are referred promptly.
'31-day wait'
Scotland and Northern Ireland meet the standard for their country on the percentage of patients that receive their first cancer treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat, while Wales does not meet the standard for their country.[2-4]
The speed at which patients receive their first treatment can have a positive outcome on their clinical outcome, so it is important that patients with cancer symptoms are treated promptly.
'62-day wait'
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not meet the standard for their country on the percentage of patients receiving their first definitive treatment for cancer within two months of a GP referral for suspected cancer.[2-4]
The speed at which patients receive their first treatment can have a positive outcome on their clinical outcome, so it is important that patients with cancer symptoms are treated promptly.
Cancer waiting times coding and standards are different in each country and so comparisons should not be made between countries, only each country against their own measures.
Head and Neck Cancers, Waiting Times, UK countries, 2014-15
England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | ||
'14-day wait': seen by specialist following referral | Performance | 95.7% | |||
Standard | 93% | ||||
Performance against standard | Meets standard | ||||
'31-day wait': receipt of first treatment following decision to treat | Performance | 97.2% | 96.0% | 96.4% | |
Standard | 98% | 95% | 98% | ||
Performance against standard | Does not meet standard | Meets standard | Does not meet standard | ||
'62-day wait': receipt of first treatment following referral | Performance | 74.5% | 89.7% | 60.0% | |
Standard | 95%> | 95% | 95% | ||
Performance against standard | Does not meet standard | Does not meet standard | Does not meet standard |
References
- NHS England. Cancer waiting times(link is external). Accessed May 2015.
- StatsWales. Cancer waiting times(link is external). Accessed May 2015.
- ISD Scotland. Cancer Waiting Times(link is external). Accessed June 2015.
- Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Cancer Waiting Times(link is external). Accessed June 2015