The NHS has confirmed it is reforming its cancer standards in a bid to speed up diagnosis and treatment but what does it mean in practice?
Currently, there are 10 performance standards for cancer. From October, these will reduce to three key standards:
- The 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)
- The 62-day referral to treatment standard
- The 31-day decision-to-treat to treatment standard
The 28-Day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)
This standard requires doctors to diagnose or rule out cancer within 28 days. It applies to patients referred for urgent cancer checks, such as a CT scan.
The 62-Day Referral to Treatment Standard
Patients diagnosed with cancer after referral should start treatment within 62 days. Referrals can come from GPs, screening checks, or other sources.
The 31-Day Decision-to-Treat to Treatment Standard
Once a patient decides to proceed with treatment, they should begin it within 31 days.
What’s happened to the urgent two-week wait?
Under the existing standards, if your GP suspects you may have cancer, they request an urgent hospital appointment for you. You should then have that appointment or test, such as a CT scan, within two weeks of the referral being made.
This cancer standard is now considered ‘outdated’ and will be replaced with the Faster Diagnosis Standard. GPs will still refer people with suspected cancer in the same way, but the focus will be on getting people diagnosed or cancer ruled out within 28 days, rather than simply getting a first appointment.
As part of plans to see and treat people for cancer as early as possible, hospitals have also been asked to work towards a 10-day turnaround when delivering diagnostic test results to patients who have received an urgent referral for suspected cancer.
Can the NHS meet these new cancer standards?
The pressure on the NHS is well known. But are these new standards achievable?
Last year, NHS data shows over two million patients with suspected cancer received a diagnosis or the all-clear within 28 days. This figure is double the number of patients receiving potentially lifesaving checks in England compared to a decade ago.
NHS Perspective
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, says more progress is needed. He believes the new streamlined standards will help.
“It is a testament to NHS staff that we are diagnosing and treating record numbers of cancer patients at earlier stages,” he said. “This gives patients the best chance of survival.
“Staff have also reduced the longest waits, but we want even more patients to be diagnosed and treated quickly after referral. These modified standards provide a clear focus. The faster diagnosis standard already in use will ensure more patients get results within a month. This helps reduce anxiety and allows treatment to start sooner.
“Catching cancers early saves lives. Leading cancer experts, charities, and clinicians agree that these three standards are the best way to ensure patients receive a timely diagnosis and treatment.”
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Response
Jesme Fox, medical director at Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, welcomes the new standards. She says they will speed up diagnosis, treatment, and reduce the distress caused by long waits.
“When it comes to lung cancer, early detection is critical. Patients diagnosed at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive five years than those diagnosed late.
“We know the anxiety patients and families face while waiting for tests and results. Every day feels like a lifetime. These new measures help reduce that agonising wait and set patients on the right treatment path sooner.
“Streamlining standards also makes it easier for patients and families to navigate the lung cancer journey. The reforms are clearer, easier to understand, and set clear expectations.
“We encourage patients and their families to advocate for themselves. Understanding the standards gives them more control in an otherwise overwhelming situation.”.”
For more information about the NHS cancer targets and what this means for you or your loved one, you can contact our Ask the Nurse service on 0800 358 7200 or email lungcancerhelp@roycastle.org