Wales has the biggest increase in cancer survival rates in the UK, a Welsh Government report published today (Monday 3 February) shows.
The second annual report charting progress against the aims of the Welsh Government’s cancer strategy shows progress in several areas of cancer care in Wales, including:
The biggest improvement in cancer survival in the UK;
- The 31 day target for patients who were newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route has been reached consistently since July 2013;
- An increase in the uptake of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine (HPV), with levels in 2012/13 at 86.6%;
- A 5% increase in recruitment to clinical trials;
- The completion of a cancer patient experience survey, which shows 89% of cancer patients think their care is excellent or very good.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Mark Drakeford (pictured) said:
“This report demonstrates real improvements in cancer care in Wales over the past year. This is a tribute to all those involved in the planning and delivery of care.
“The report tells us our cancer survival improvement has been proportionately larger than in other UK countries, and we have consistently achieved the 31 day target since July 2013.
“We also know from the recent cancer patient experience survey that 89% of patients in Wales think their care is ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’, rising to 97% when describing their care as ‘good’.
“Another area of success highlighted by the report is in the increase in the uptake of the HPV vaccine, from 85.5% in 2011/12 to 86.6% in 2012/13. This vaccine prevents cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women under the age of 35.
“The report also highlights areas to focus efforts in the coming year, such as reversing the decline in the numbers of people taking up bowel cancer screening, and to build on recent improvements against the 62-day target for those newly diagnosed with cancer.
“While our cancer survival improvement has been the best in the UK, we are still to reach the levels achieved in a number of other European countries so need to continue to make progress here.
“Every patient deserves the best care. Whilst the results of this report indicate we are moving in the right direction, in Wales we will continue to work to make improvements in all aspects of cancer care and treatment.”
