Written question WQ97382
- Asked by
- Darren MillarConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 3 days
Question
What steps has the Welsh Government taken to address the delays to diagnosis for sarcoma cancer, in light of figures published by Sarcoma UK showing that 30 per cent of sarcoma patients wait more than six months for a diagnosis?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The Welsh Government is committed to improving care and outcomes for all cancer types. Our expectations set out in the Quality Statement for Cancer. This requires NHS organisations to deliver care in line with clinical standards and guidelines through the national optimal pathway for sarcoma cancer. Sarcoma is also subject to national commissioning arrangements and oversight.
Sarcoma can be challenging to identify and diagnose. Our approach to improving early detection of cancer is to support clinicians with professional education about when to refer and to provide additional referral options, including rapid access and one-stop clinics when symptoms are unclear but cancer is still suspected.
We are focused on improving performance against the 62-day cancer target and improving access to diagnostics so people can move quickly through the treatment pathways.