A cancer target is reached
 Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has congratulated NHS staff for achieving a target to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. Figures show that more people than ever before who are diagnosed with cancer begin their treatment within a month of diagnosis.
The NHS Cancer Plan, published in 2000, set out two targets for cancer waiting times, due to be met from January this year:
- Patients diagnosed with cancer should begin treatment within a maximum of 31 days of the diagnosis (decision to treat); and
- Patients with cancer who have been urgently referred by their GP should begin treatment within a maximum of 62 days of referral.
Statistics show that 98.9 per cent of people with suspected cancer are being treated within a maximum 31 days of diagnosis, over the target of 98 per cent. Also, 91.1 per cent of people who are urgently referred by their GP begin treatment within 62 days, against the target of 95 per cent.
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