THE trust which runs hospital services across the county has missed a key target to see patients urgently for suspected cancer for more than two years, it has been revealed.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital, has told us staff are now "working tirelessly" and doing a number of things to ensure the cancer referral target is met.
In England, the maximum waiting time for a hospital appointment for suspected cancer is two weeks from the day the hospital receives a referral letter from a GP.
According to the NHS 93 per cent of patients should be seen within this timeframe.
However new analysis from the PA news agency shows Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has not reached the target since May 2020.
Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Our staff are working tirelessly to overcome the lasting effects of the pandemic and are doing a number of things to see an increasing number of patients with suspected cancer and reduce their waiting times.
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“We have boosted our capacity with a brand-new Community Diagnostic Centre and Endoscopy Unit at Kidderminster Hospital, and we are using additional mobile scanners and MRIs to reduce backlogs and support scans for specific cancers such as prostate and colorectal cancers.
"We have sourced additional specialist radiographers to carry out extra CT scans as quickly as possible, and we are also focussing on using our facilities at Alexandra and Kidderminster hospitals to offer timely surgery for those cancer patients who require it.
“Our performance is improving month on month, and September saw the fewest number of patients waiting longer than our target since before the pandemic, despite the total number of patients referred to us with suspected cancer being the highest since before Covid.”
It is one of a number of trusts routinely missing the target - the 12-month rolling average currently standing at 84 out of 117 that have missed it.
Naser Turabi, director of evidence and implementation at Cancer Research UK, said: “Any cancer waiting times target that is missed is unacceptable.
“However, this target should be a minimum standard. The fact that it is now not being met just goes to show how strained our health service has become."
A spokesman for Healthwatch Worcestershire said: "It is very concerning that cancer waiting times targets are being missed.
"Early diagnosis and treatment gives better outcomes for patients and that is the important thing. Patient stories provide the human face behind the statistics and the missed targets.
"We welcome the local investment in diagnostics and other initiatives to improve cancer waiting times. We will be watching to see whether waiting times improve which is why we need to hear from patients about their experiences.
"You can contact us through our website healthwatchworcestershire co.uk or call 01386 550264.”
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