Performance on cancer treatment targets falls again

A LEADING cancer charity has warned performance against cancer treatment targets in Wales has taken a further step backwards, leaving hundreds to face anxious delays.

The latest data shows that in May alone, more than 790 people were left to face heart-breaking delays in their cancer care.

In some areas of Wales, less than half of people with cancer are being treated within the target timeframe of 62 days, with 3 out of the 6 health boards that record cancer waiting times recording less than 50% performance against that target.

For some forms of cancer, concerns over increasing waits for treatment are even greater, with almost 2 in 3 people affected by gynaecological and urological cancer facing delays.

Macmillan Cancer Support recently warned

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that such consistent delays in cancer care mean an estimated 4,500 people in Wales have faced worsening outcomes from their cancer diagnosis because of growing delays in starting treatment.

Richard Pugh, Head of Partnerships, told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “People affected by cancer, and those involved in caring for them, will look at this data and quite rightly ask ‘what are we waiting for?’ Where is the leadership, the urgency, the funding, and the support required to help bring down cancer treatment waiting times?

“Not only is performance falling woefully short of existing targets, but we are already months past a crucial interim Welsh Government recovery target of treating 70% of people with cancer on time by March 2023.

“The stark reality is that in areas right across Wales, less than half of people with cancer are being treated on time. That means people with

ANYONE looking for advice or help with increasing costs and the impact on lives can find what they need in one place on the Pembrokeshire County Council website.

Whether its help with bills, advice on managing money and debts, visiting warm spaces, finding support on housing issues or with education and school costs there is information available on the dedicated Cost of Living pages.

Other sections include help with finding work and training, health and wellbeing as well as food support, childcare and help for older people.

Within each area there are lots of different information points and links all designed to signpost residents to the support available and how to access it on a national and local level.

Pembrokeshire residents helped shape the new pages by taking part in usability tests and providing valuable feedback to ensure all the cost of living support and information provided is easily accessible.

Cabinet Member for Corporate Improvement and Communities Cllr

Neil Prior said: “The input from residents in making these dedicated webpages easily accessible was extremely important and having such a wealth of information to help support anyone struggling in the current financial climate is a vital resource.” cancer are not only being let down in the ‘here and now’, it casts significant doubt on the ability of the Welsh Government to fulfil its promise of treating 80% of people on time by

Pembrokeshire County Council would like to continue working with members of the public, to test and improve online services. A database of potential research candidates is being built and local residents can join by completing an expression of interest form.

2026.

“Action is needed now. We know that cancer incidence is forecast to continue to grow in the years ahead and the latest data once again shows that as the numbers entering the cancer care system increases, performance on treating those people on time worsens. That trend simply has to be broken