Remarkable reduction in cancer waits amongst the best in country
The NHS has singled out Barts Health for our exceptional progress in reducing the time it takes for patients to receive their test results of suspected cancer. 78% of patients currently receive their results within 4-weeks, which exceeds the national target of 75%.
Since April 2023, we have also recorded a notable reduction in patients waiting more than 62 days for their results, with that number dropping from 366 to 216, an impressive improvement of 41%.
This achievement not only exceeds the target we set for 2023/2024 but also contributes significantly to the national effort in reducing cancer backlogs to pre-pandemic levels.
Teams have been able to make such a significant impact by implementing new initiatives, such as ensuring equity for all new cancer referrals, speeding up biopsies, and using innovative ways to review cases of suspected cancers.
Acknowledging the challenging year we’ve had, Dame Cally Palmer, NHS cancer lead expressed her gratitude, noting: “This has been an incredibly difficult year for the NHS in many ways, not least contending with the disruption from Industrial Action, and this makes the kind of progress you have been able to make all the more impressive.”
This acknowledgement underscores the exceptional dedication and hard work of our colleagues. Looking ahead, we want to build upon this success and further enhance cancer care services for our community.
Shane DeGaris, Group Chief Executive, Barts Health said, “we know how difficult this time can be for patients so ensuring that we are doing everything we can for them to receive their results sooner is a priority and having these efforts recognised is a welcomed boost to the teams working so hard.”