Health Targets

Shorter waits for cancer treatment

What is the target?

Everyone needing radiation treatment will have this within six weeks by the end of July 2010 and within four weeks by December 2010.

Why is this target area important?

Specialist cancer treatment and symptom control is essential in reducing the impact of cancer. Development of indicators that mark quality cancer treatment is, however, restricted by the lack of routinely collected information on common treatment. In the interim, waiting times for radiation oncology treatment have been chosen as a representative indicator of specialist treatment, and is an area with waiting time issues for patients. This is justifiable, because radiotherapy is of proven effectiveness in reducing the impact of a range of cancers, and delay to radiotherapy is likely to lead to poorer outcomes of treatment. A six week wait time is currently targeted. The expectation will move to four weeks by December 2010.

Who is the Ministry of Health champion of this target?

Dr John Childs, National Clinical Director, Cancer Programme

Related information

Cancer Control section

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Page last updated: 1 July 2009