WQ89599 (w) Tabled on 13/11/2023

When will the Welsh Government implement the National Optimal Pathway for Pancreatic Cancer?

Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services | Answered on 22/11/2023

National Optimal Pathways for cancer, including pancreatic cancer, are for health boards and trusts in Wales to implement. I attach a link to the pathway for information:

https://executive.nhs.wales/networks-and-planning/cancer/clinical-hub/cancer-site-groups/upper-gastrointestinal-cancers/pancreatic-cancer/

The pathways are intended to guide the planning and delivery of NHS services, so that the NHS in Wales provides consistent care, in line with professional standards and the cancer waiting time target.

The pathways are very challenging, include timeliness milestones and achieving the timeliness requirements of the pathways will vary over time depending on changes in demand for investigation and treatment.

This means there will not be any particular point in time when a pathway can be considered to be achieved, as it will require constant delivery, and will be subject to fluctuating pressures on diagnostic and treatment services.