Western Trust failing to meet crucial Health Department cancer treatment targets

The Western Health and Social Care Trust has again failed to meet several crucial Health Department cancer targets according to accredited official statistics.

These include waiting times for first definitive treatment following an urgent GP referral; urgent breast cancer referrals; and waiting times for a first definitive treatment following a decision to treat.

The Health Department has set the target that at least 95% of patients should begin their first definitive treatment for cancer within 62 days of an urgent General Practitioner (GP) referral for suspect cancer.

In the Western Trust, in the quarter ending March 2025, 236 patients started treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, of which 87.5 (37.07%) started treatment within 62 days and 147.5 (62.93%) started treatment after the 62 day target.

In the previous quarter in the Trust (October to December 2024) 264 patients started treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, of which 99 (37.5%) started treatment within 62 days and 165 (62.5%) started treatment after the 62 day target.

In the Trust, in the quarter ending March 2024, 285 patients started treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer, of which 113.5 (39.82%) started treatment within 62 days and 171 (60%) started treatment after the 62 day target.

The ‘Cancer Waiting Time Statistics: January to March 2025’ published on Thursday, also revealed the Trust missed the target of all urgent breast cancer referrals being seen within 14 days.

The report gave details of the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals in the North during January, February, and March 2025.

In the Western Trust, in the quarter ending March 2025, 802 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral, of which 745 (92.89%) were seen within 14 days. 57 (7.11%) patients missed the 14 day target.

In the same quarter, 1,098 referrals were received by the Trust for suspect breast cancer, of which 905 were classified as urgent.

In the previous quarter (October 2024 to December 2024) 836 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral, of which 692 (82.77%) were seen within 14 days. 144 (17.22%) patients missed the 14 day target.

In the same quarter, 1,139 referrals were received by the Trust for suspect breast cancer, of which 865 were classified as urgent.

In the quarter ending March 2024, 811 patients were seen by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral, of which 800 (98.64%) were seen within 14 days. 11 (1.36%) patients missed the 14 day target.

In the same quarter, 1,216 referrals were received by the Trust for suspect breast cancer, of which 936 were classified as urgent.

British state impunity in North and Britain highlighted at event in London

'State Impunity and Injustice: Northern Ireland, Britain, and the Fight for  Accountability' took place in St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace

British state impunity in North and Britain highlighted at event in London

'State Impunity and Injustice: Northern Ireland, Britain, and the Fight for  Accountability' took place in St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace

The second Health Department target is that at least 98% of patients diagnosed with cancer should begin their first definitive treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat.

In the Trust in the quarter ending March 2025, 401 patients started treatment following a decision to treat, of which 388 (96.75%) started treatment within 31 days. 13 (3.25%) patients missed the 31-day target.

The Trust met the 98% target In the previous quarter 481 patients started treatment following a decision to treat, of which 472 (98.12%) started treatment within 31 days. 9 (1.88%) patients missed the 31-day target.

It also met the 98% target in the quarter ending March 2024, with 499 patients starting treatment following a decision to treat, of which 493 (98.79%) started treatment within 31 days. 6 (1.21%) patients missed the 31-day target.