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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been waiting more than (a) three (b) six (c) nine (d) 12 (e) 18 and (f) 24 months between (i) referral by a GP for a diagnostic test and (ii) referral by a consultant for a diagnostic test; and if he will make a statement. [75989] Mr. Hutton: Information is not collected centrally on the number of patients waiting for diagnostic tests. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for any diagnostic test is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, however this is dependent on the clinical priority of all remaining patients waiting to have diagnostic tests. The NHS Cancer Plan set new targets to shorten the time patients have to wait for diagnosis and treatment. The first step in reducing cancer waiting times was the introduction of the two week waiting time standard form urgent general practitioner referral to outpatient appointment for cases of suspected breast cancer from April 1999. The two week standard was extended to all other urgent cases of suspected cancer during 2000. By 2005 there will be a maximum two month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to treatment for all cancers. We are making unprecedented investment in the provision of new and replacement diagnostic equipment, improving the recruitment and retention of staff and streamlining the way care is delivered through the cancer services collaborative.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

75989; 391 c505W;391 c503-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Consultants Diagnosis Hospitals General practitioners NHS Waiting lists Screening

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk