Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, has criticised new figures showing the 62 day target for treating urgent cancer cases has been missed again.
89 per cent of patients started treatment within that timeframe during the last quarter. The target is 95 per cent.
It means that over 140 people diagnosed with suspected cancer via the ‘urgent route’ were not seen quickly enough in the three months up to September.
The Welsh government’s operating framework states that ‘by March 2010 organisations must have achieved… the cancer waiting times of both 31 and 62 day targets, routinely’.
Mr Millar said:
“This target has not been met once since Carwyn Jones became First Minister. In fact, it’s got worse. Yet he has the gall to say waiting times are getting better under the Welsh Labour Government.
“Cancer waiting times remain a lottery. It’s that simple.
“While 99 per cent of suspected breast cancer patients are seen within the target time, only 74 per cent of head and neck cases meet the target. While there is clearly good work here to be commended, we also need to find out why some areas are so badly lacking.
“We cannot continue in a situation where how quickly you may be treated is dependent upon which cancer you may have. That needs to stop immediately.
“The Health Minister should acknowledge this failure and put further measures in place to put it right. That should urgently include a national cancer plan.”
