Kirsty Williams
Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has called for improvement to cancer waiting times after figures published yesterday showed that a key waiting time target has once again been missed.
The Welsh Labour government has a target for 95% of urgent patients to be seen by a specialist within 62 days. A target that has been missed every month since 2008. New figures released today show that, only 90.6% of these cases had started definitive treatment within this time period. The figures also showed that just two of the six LHBs met this 95% target.
Kirsty Williams AM, said:
“Last year the Health Minister told us that the cancer 62 day waiting time target would be met by October 2013, yet still that important target has not been met. Over the last few months we had seen some improvement yet this month the waiting times have worsened.
“Being diagnosed with cancer is a terrifying experience. With just two of the six health boards meeting the 95% target, we have a postcode lottery of cancer treatment in Wales. It is simply not good enough that people are being forced to wait over two months until the start of their treatment.”
