All NHS patients have the right to complain. The charity Healthwatch.co.uk can help people make a complaint more effectively. It states that in the first instance, you speak directly to the service itself, such as the specific clinic you have been referred to, and see if you can resolve the issue. If you are waiting to be seen at a hospital, the first contact should be with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team. You should find their contact details on your hospital’s website. You can contact the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman if you are still unhappy. In England, this is through their website, or you can call the helpline on 0345 015 4033.
The Patients Association’s website has advice about making a complaint wherever you are in the UK. Tips include who to complain to, the information you should include in your complaint, including your name and date of birth, your NHS number if you have it, and details of what has already happened, such as your GP appointment, with dates and times, and what outcome you want, such as to be seen within a certain time frame. It says complaints should always be polite in tone. The charity’s free helpline is available from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, at 0800 345 7115, or you can contact them via email at [email protected].
For help, support and advice, you can visit Macmillan’s website or call 0808 808 00 00.
Cancer Research UK offers a nurse helpline on 0808 800 4040.
Cancer waiting times: Guidance for 2024
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The 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)
The standard: People with an urgent referral should have cancer ruled out or receive a diagnosis within 28 days.
NHS target: 75 per cent of patients should be diagnosed or given the all-clear within this timeframe.
Who does it apply to? People who have been urgently referred: by a GP for suspected cancer; following an abnormal cancer screening result; or by a GP for breast symptoms (where cancer is not suspected).
Current performance: 74.2 per cent.
The 62-day referral to treatment standard
The standard: People with cancer should begin treatment within two months (62 days) of an urgent referral.
NHS target: 85 per cent of people should be treated by this deadline. However, the NHS recently announced that it aims for 70 per cent of patients to begin treatment within two months of their urgent referral by March 2024.
Who does it apply to? People with cancer who have been urgently referred: by a GP for suspected cancer; following an abnormal cancer screening result; by a consultant who suspects cancer following other investigations (also known as ‘upgrades’).
Current performance: 65.9 per cent
The 31-day decision to treat to treatment standard
The standard: People with cancer should begin treatment within a month (31 days) of a decision being made to treat their cancer.
NHS target: 96 per cent.
Who does it apply to? Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, including people who have cancer which has returned.
Current performance: 91.1 per cent.
Outside England
The Faster Diagnosis Standard only applies to England. But while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different targets, these are also being missed.
The latest figures were released by the Welsh Government in January 2024 and cover November 2023.
The 62-day referral to treatment standard
The standard: All urgent and non-urgent cancer referrals have one target time. This is for eligible patients to be diagnosed and start treatment by 62 days from when cancer is first suspected. The clock could start ticking from a GP referral, an abnormal screening result or a hospital admission.
NHS target: 75 per cent of patients to either be told they do not have cancer or start cancer treatment within 62 days.
Current performance: 53.5 per cent.
The most recent figures on cancer waiting times from Public Health Scotland were issued in December 2023. They cover patients who had started their first treatment by the quarter ending Sept 30 2023 and only apply patients with one of the following cancers: breast, colorectal, head and neck, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, melanoma, upper gastro-intestinal (hepato-pancreato-biliary and oesophago-gastric), urological (prostate, bladder, other) or cervical.
The 62-day referral to treatment standard
The standard: People should wait no longer than 62 days from an urgent suspected cancer hospital referral to their first treatment.
NHS target: 95 per cent.
Current performance: 72 per cent.
The 31-day decision to treat to treatment standard
The standard: Patients should wait no longer than 31 days from the decision to treat them to their first cancer treatment.
NHS target: 95 per cent.
Current performance: 94.9 per cent.
The latest statistics for cancer waiting times in Northern Ireland were published in January this year, covering the quarter ending September 2023.
The 62-day referral to treatment standard
The standard: People should wait no longer than 62 days from an urgent suspected cancer hospital referral to treatment.
NHS target: 95 per cent.
Current performance: 33.6 per cent.
The 31-day decision to treat to treatment standard
The standard: Patients should wait no longer than 31 days from the agreement of a treatment plan to their first cancer treatment.
NHS target: 98 per cent.
Current performance: 89.1 per cent.
The 14-day urgent breast cancer referral standard
The standard: Patients with suspected breast cancer should be seen by a breast cancer specialist within 14 days of the hospital receiving an urgent referral.
NHS target: 100 per cent.
Current performance: 52.9 per cent. A drop from 70.2 per cent in the previous quarter.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
