NHS cancer waiting times, quarter ending December 2012

Statistics on Cancer waiting times include data for Welsh Local Health Boards (LHBs) for the quarter ending December 2012. The latest release updates the monthly statistics previously released on 23 January 2013.

The key points for the quarter ending December 2012 are:

• 86 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer via the Urgent Suspected Cancer route started definitive treatment within the target time of 62 days.  Since the quarter ending September 2008, this percentage has been around the low to mid 90s. It fell below 90 per cent for quarters ending June and September 2011, rose to 90 per cent for quarters ending December 2011 and March 2012, but fell to 88 per cent for the quarter ending June 2012 and 86 per cent for quarter ending September 2012
• 98 per cent of patients who were newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route started definitive treatment within the target time of 31 days.  The longer term trend has been fairly static, fluctuating around 98 and 99 per cent since quarter ending September 2007 and generally meeting the target
• at Local Health Board (LHB) level, four of the six LHBs met the target that at least 98 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route should start definitive treatment within 31 days.  None of the LHBs met the target that at least 95 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer via the Urgent route should start definitive treatment within 62 days

The key points for month ending December 2012 are:

• 85 per cent of patients (360 out of 425) newly diagnosed with cancer via the Urgent Suspected Cancer route started definitive treatment within the target time of 62 days
• 98 per cent of patients (708 out of 725) who were newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route started definitive treatment within the target time of 31 days
• 3 of the 6 LHBs met the target that at least 98 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer not via the Urgent route should start definitive treatment within 31 days.  1 of the 6 LHBs met the target that at least 95 per cent of patients newly diagnosed with cancer via the Urgent route should start definitive treatment within 62 days

All figures relating to quarter ending December 2012 are provisional. Note that there are smaller numbers in the monthly statistics; therefore care should be taken when interpreting percentages.

To access the data, please go to the StatsWales website. Please note that the data is released monthly via StatsWales on a headline page. On a quarterly basis, we produce a Statistical Release that includes the data for the previous three months, detailed commentary and information on the targets and any revisions.

We also produce a quality report that has information about the methodology, how the data (monthly and quarterly) is released, definitions, information on disclosure and details on how revisions to the data are handled.

Revisions

There have been no revisions to the data, this quarter.

Feedback

As this is a new approach for releasing cancer waiting times’ data, we would value your feedback.

Further information

StatsWales website (external link)

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5016
Email: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

27 March 2013