How is the Welsh Government working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to reduce waiting times for urgent cancer treatments?
Health boards across Wales have reported increasing numbers of cancer referrals, as well as reduced capacity due to a range of factors, including the impact of recent industrial action. Plans have been put in place by health boards to prioritise cancer services and minimise impact during periods of industrial action, however capacity lost during these periods has unfortunately resulted in some delays in the pathway.
In February 2024, a total of 327 people on the suspected cancer pathway within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board started their first definitive treatment and 3780 people were informed they do not have cancer, within a median time of 35 days from the point of suspicion.
The health board has made a number of service innovations to reduce waiting times across the suspected cancer pathway, including the use of robotic technology for bowel cancer patients; a “straight to test” pathway allowing patients to have an mpMRI test sooner after being referred for diagnostics on a ‘suspicion of cancer’ pathway; and a straight to test nurse-led initiative which has considerably reduced diagnostic waiting times for prostate cancer.
The health board also continues to work to reduce the number of patients who have waited beyond the 62-day target and have actions in place including additional waiting list initiatives, weekend working, and moving staff and patients around where possible to minimise waiting times across the pathway.
In December 2023, I approved a £2m allocation, for three consecutive years, to support the planned care programme of the NHS Executive to recover cancer waiting times. This funding will be used to improve productivity and efficiency in cancer pathways, including changes to how clinical services are delivered to improve the throughput and timeliness of pathways of care.