BREAST CANCER TARGETS

Early day motion 21, tabled 26 November 2003 by Tim Yeo (Conservative). Signed by 68 members.

That this House expresses concern at the effect the two-week breast cancer urgent-referral target has had on other breast cancer waiting times; notes that research conducted by the Thames Cancer Registry found that waiting times for subsequent treatment have risen, that some non-urgent referrals now wait up to 12 weeks for an appointment and that overall waiting times have not changed; further expresses concern that the one-month target from diagnosis to treatment only considers the first stage of treatment and therefore ignores the significant delays taken to complete treatment in areas such as radiotherapy; and calls on the Government to assess whether these targeted areas have served to move patients from one queue to another.

Signatures by party: Conservative 59, DUP 3, UUP 2, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Labour 1, Liberal Democrat 1.