When a patient is referred by a GP to a hospital with a suspicion of cancer, it is an incredibly worrying time and early diagnosis and treatment is key.
NHS England have set a target that 85% of patients should start treatment within 62 days of the referral from their GP. However, the latest figures show that this target is not being achieved and in January of this year, they were at an all-time low of 76.2%. Over the past 5 years, the monthly target has only been achieved 3 times.
Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer can make a difference to survival rates and the stage which the cancer is at. It is essential therefore that these targets are met in order to enable a patient to undergo the necessary urgent treatment and to prevent lives being put at risk unnecessarily.
If you or a loved one have been affected by a delay in diagnosis or treatment and would like to speak to a medical negligence specialist about making a claim for compensation please call us on 01616 966 229.
Comments