NHS to replace flagship cancer waiting time target

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Cancer charities and doctors have said replacing the two-week waiting time target with the 28 days “faster diagnosis standard” will be “helpful” and a “step-forward” for patients actually suffering from cancer. And now what they’re doing is moving the goalposts and even where they’re keeping targets after this streamlining, there’s targets they’re still not hitting.” A consultation on the cancer target plans started last year and said the current two-week wait sets no expectation of when patients should receive test results or have a confirmed diagnosis. To make this possible, so that more patients get the timely diagnosis and treatment they deserve, we need to see concerted action from the Government to increase cancer capacity.” The clear and simple truth is that we are not investing enough in cancer treatment capacity and getting the whole cancer pathway working Prof Pat Price Oncologist Professor Pat Price, who is co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, said: “While we agree chasing too many targets can be disruptive and divert resources away from the main patient 62-day treatment target, poor performance is not as a result of how we are measuring it. “The clear and simple truth is that we are not investing enough in cancer treatment capacity and getting the whole cancer pathway working.” New figures published by NHS England last Thursday showed cancer wait times remain well below targets set by the Government and health service.