{"id":27959,"date":"2022-03-11T17:33:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T17:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.cancerresearchuk.org\/?p=24116"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:13:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:13:43","slug":"breaking-down-the-new-standards-for-cancer-care-proposed-by-nhs-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/breaking-down-the-new-standards-for-cancer-care-proposed-by-nhs-england\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking down the new standards for cancer care proposed by NHS England"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"An<\/div>\n

Cancer waiting times<\/span><\/a> provide data on the waiting times of people being seen by a specialist and treated for cancer by the NHS. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

These figures have been important in offering clear expectations of how long people being urgently referred for suspected cancer should wait to see a specialist for the first time and for all cancer patients to begin treatment.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

This week, NHS England published a report which has proposed shifts in cancer waiting times standards. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

In April last year, the NHS in England began reporting on a new measure called the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)<\/a>. <\/span>This was recommended in the 2015 cancer strategy<\/a> as a way of measuring a part of the pathway that was previously not captured and had often been taking a long time; having tests, receiving the results and ultimately a diagnosis. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

And since October 2021, Trusts have been measured on this Faster Diagnosis Standard which requires that patients on certain cancer-related referrals are receiving a diagnosis, or having cancer ruled out, in 28 days. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

As currently proposed, the NHS has set a target for 75% of patients getting a cancer diagnosis, or having cancer ruled out, within 28 days of being urgently referred by their GP for suspected cancer, being referred because of <\/span>breast symptoms, or having been picked up through cancer screening<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

For a few months, the FDS has been running alongside the cancer waiting times targets that have been around for a while. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

NHS England are now proposing that one of the cancer waiting times targets, the 2 Week Wait (2WW), which aims for people with suspected cancer to see a specialist within 14 days of being urgently referred by their GP or a cancer screening programme, is replaced by the FDS.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The publication of the report kick-starts a 4-week consultation period<\/a> which provides the opportunity for patients, clinicians, charities and the public to share their views on the proposed standards over the next month. <\/span><\/p>\n

We believe that the proposed changes are a big step in the right direction as they focus on tangible outcomes for cancer patients rather than processes. They could play an important role in driving improvements and capacity in diagnostic services.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are currently 9 separate performance standards for cancer. The standards aim to streamline the current existing targets into 3 key targets:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n