Statistics on average waiting times between urgent referral for suspected cancer and being seen by a specialist are not collected centrally. The two week wait for all cancers was introduced from 2000. From this date forward, all patients urgently referred for suspected cancer by their general practitioner could expect to be seen by a specialist within 14 days of referral. The following table details the numbers of patients covered by this standard and the reported performance for the period April 2005 to December 2008:
Period (where referral was received within 24 hours) Total seen Number of patients seen within 14 days Percentage performance Q1 2005-06 134,813 134,246 99.6 Q2 2005-06 137,471 136,932 99.6 Q3 2005-06 133,328 133,122 99.8 Q4 2005-06 134,828 134,688 99.9 Q1 2006-07 145,460 145,319 99.9 Q2 2006-07 151,546 151,392 99.9 Q3 2006-07 155,256 155,126 99.9 Q4 2006-07 152,392 152,243 99.9 Q1 2007-08 157,615 157,445 99.9 Q2 2007-08 163,756 163,587 99.9 Q3 2007-08 168,376 168,230 99.9 Q4 2007-08 164,612 164,326 99.8 Q1 2008-09 186,364 186,120 99.9 Q2 2008-09 189,397 188,832 99.7 Q3 2008-09 186,206 185,924 99.8
From 1 January 2009 onwards the definitions and methodology used to calculate these statistics are no longer directly comparable to those used previously. This change means that the national health service no longer adjusts these data to separate referrals after 24 hours or account for the impact of patient choice, where individuals elect to delay their appointment. Statistics for the period January 2009 to December 2009 are included as follows:
Period Total seen Number of patients seen within 14 days Percentage performance Q4 2008-09 191,508 181,038 94.5 Q1 2009-10 221,364 208,265 94.1 Q2 2009-10 229,101 216,177 94.4 Q3 2009-10 228,272 218,174 95.6
The information is not collected in the format requested. The information that is available is shown in the following tables.
Primary care trust (PCT) Position at month end Median (weeks) South Manchester March 2006 3.7 Central Manchester March 2006 3.9 North Manchester March 2006 3.8 Manchester PCT March 2007 3.2 Manchester PCT March 2008 2.7 Manchester PCT March 2009 2.2 Manchester PCT January 2010 2.4 Notes: 1. PCT mergers took place in 2006. Figures are shown for organisations that existed at the time. 2. Out-patient waiting times are measured from referral by the general practitioner to first outpatient appointment to the consultant. 3. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for their first out-patient appointment at the end of the period stated. 4. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. Source: Department Waiting List Collections (QM08R and MMRCOM)
PCT Position at month end Median (weeks) South Manchester March 2006 5.4 Central Manchester March 2006 4.8 North Manchester March 2006 6.0 Manchester PCT March 2007 5.8 Manchester PCT March 2008 4.9 Manchester PCT March 2009 3.9 Manchester PCT January 2010 5.3 Notes: 1. PCT mergers took place in 2006. Figures are shown for organisations that existed at the time. 2. In-patient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 3. The figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting for admission at the end of the period stated. 4. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. Source: Department Waiting List Collections QF01 and MMRCOM
PCT Position at month end Median (weeks)—admitted patients Median (weeks)—non-admitted patients Manchester PCT March 2007 19.5 — Manchester PCT March 2008 8.1 4.1 Manchester PCT March 2009 7.9 3.1 Manchester PCT December 2009 7.9 3.7 Notes: 1. Waiting times are for patients treated during the month and are from referral to first definitive treatment. 2. Data for non-admitted patients were first published in August 2007. 3. Admitted data are on an unadjusted basis for March 2007 and adjusted thereafter. 4. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. Source: Department Monthly RTT Return