Two North East trusts have been failing to hit their target for seeing patients urgently for suspected cancer diagnosis.

Data analysed by PA News Agency found that a number of hospitals were failing to hit the national target for cancer referrals is the highest it has been for at least three years.

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.

Some 93 per cent of patients should be seen within this timeframe, according to the NHS in England.

However, new analysis, using data from August 2019 to August 2022, shows this target is routinely not being met.

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of a number of trusts that failed to meet the targets for a period of three-years.

The Northern Echo: Picture: PA IMAGESPicture: PA IMAGES (Image: Picture: PA IMAGES)

Meanwhile, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust achieved the target for just one month over the same period.

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Nationally, the 12-month rolling average for the number of trusts not hitting the target currently stands at 84 out of 117 – the highest number over this period.

This is nearly three quarters, 72 per cent, of the 117 trusts.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told The Northern Echo: “We are working at pace to improve outcomes for cancer patients across England, including by opening over 80 community diagnostics centres which have delivered over two million addition scans, tests and checks.”

Nasar Turabi, director of evidence and implementation at Cancer Research UK, told PA that the data was “unacceptable.”

He added: “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.

“We expect the number of people going to the doctor about suspected cancer to fluctuate throughout the year, but the NHS should be equipped for that.

“That’s why we need the Government to publish the 10-year cancer plan they have committed to, with a fully-costed and comprehensive plan for investment in cancer workforce.

“It’s also important to remember that it’s better to be on a waiting list than to sit at home with symptoms.

“Listen to your body – if you sense something isn’t right, see your GP and persevere to get an appointment. Your doctor wants to hear from you.”

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An NHS spokesperson added: “In order to fully recover from the pandemic, GPs are now referring 20% more patients every day than before the pandemic, which is good news as it will mean more people will get checked and diagnosed earlier.

“The NHS is investing billions to expand diagnostic treatment capacity to meet this extra demand, and has written to trusts with the longest backlogs asking them to urgently set out plans to reduce cancer waits – helping them redesign their care to keep up with increased demand.”

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The NHS is seeing record numbers of people referred with symptoms suspicious of cancer and, as a large trust, serving a population of 650,000, this has put additional pressure on our services. 

"We wish to assure people that we’re working to increase capacity and have excellent diagnostic facilities and teams.  We encourage anyone with concerns about symptoms not to delay contacting their GP.” 

Executive medical director for the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Dr Neil O’Brien, said: “We recognise how worrying it can be having to wait for tests or treatment for cancer and we are working hard together across the north east and north Cumbria to ensure we treat everyone as quickly as we can.

“While our overall performance for the 28-day waiting time standard remains one of the highest nationally and cancer waiting time standards are above the national average - we know waiting times are not where we would want them to be

“We have seen an increase in referrals following the pandemic and in the last six months this equates to approximately 10,000 additional patients seen following an urgent cancer referral – with the proportion of cancers diagnosed at an early stage now broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels across the region.

“Across the region we are expanding diagnostic treatment capacity and have a range of initiatives in place such as targeted lung health checks and tele-dermatology – all of which are designed to speed up access to diagnosis and treatment.  

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they may have symptoms of cancer not to delay seeking advice and to contact their GP.

The Northern Echo has contacted Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for comment.

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