What plans does the Welsh Government have to reduce the length of time bowel cancer patients are waiting for treatment?
Our approach to improving cancer services is set out in the Quality Statement for Cancer and the NHS’s Cancer Improvement Plan. These are focused on implementing nationally-agreed pathways to improve care and the use of data to support quality improvement. It includes the national optimal pathway for colorectal cancer and the bowel cancer clinical audit.
Earlier detection is vital to improve bowel cancer outcomes. We have lowered the age people are invited to take part in bowel screening from 60 to 50 and increased the sensitivity of the screening test used. We have also worked with the NHS to introduce a triage test in primary care to support better risk-based management of referrals from primary care for suspected bowel cancer.
The NHS in Wales has introduced rapid diagnostic centres for people with non-specific symptoms and a programme called Gateway-C to all GP computers to support the diagnosis and referral of suspected cancers. We are investing in cancer services, including tens of millions of pounds in equipment, facilities, and training. We have also launched a £2m national programme to support health boards and NHS trusts to improve performance for five priority cancer types, which includes lower gastrointestinal cancers. Digital Health and Care Wales routinely publishes median waits in days from referral to test and referral to diagnosis for lower gastrointestinal cancer.