The NHS Cancer Plan published in September 2000 first introduced three specific cancer waiting time standards.

This commenced with the two week wait for GP referral for specialist opinion for a suspected cancer, moving through both diagnostic and treatment pathways with the 62-day urgent GP to first treatment, and the 31-day decision to treat to first treatment standards.

Today, those initial three standards have expanded to eight. Part of NHS Londons remit is to work with the five cancer networks covering London, to ensure that progress is maintained on delivering sustainable performance, across these eight standards. Quarterly performance data shows London achieving all eight standards, with performance above the National average in six of the eight standards. Despite the overall positive level of delivery across London, there remains work to be done.

There are significant variations in performance between different Trusts and different standards. We are working with cancer networks to promote a better understanding of the causes of these differences, so that improvements to care can be made and greater consistency in performance achieved. One area of recent action has been to engage with Trusts via the six London PCT Clusters to ensure that all Trust cancer access policies reflect the most up to date cancer guidance, published by the Department of Health, thus helping to ensure that everyone get equal access to cancer services across the Capital.

NHS London has also helped to organise and host a number of events aimed at highlighting areas of good and best practice, which Trusts can learn from and build upon, in developing their own services. Recently, this has included promoting the benefits which the Enhanced Recovery Programme can bring to cancer patients and their care.

Since their introduction 11 years ago, the cancer standards have remained one of the key priorities for delivery for the NHS. NHS London will continue to ensure that the right degree of focus is maintained in this area, working with the cancer networks and the PCT Clusters to enable Londoners to access the high quality services they need, when they need them most. More information on the Department of Healths cancer plan and continuing work can be found here.