RHUN ap Iorwerth has called for greater clarity and urgency on Welsh Government plans for cancer services in Wales.
Every year, around 19,500 people in Wales are diagnosed with cancer, and with waiting times for treatment longer than ever across North Wales, the Government have announced new plans.
Welsh Government has recently increased the target for patients to receive their first treatment within 62 days – from 75 per cent to 80 per cent.
However, in April, just 56.4 per cent of patients started their treatment within the target time, a trend which is declining.
The Quality Statement for Cancer, which replaced the lapsed Cancer Delivery Plan, was published a year ago (and updated in May 2022), with Health Minister Eluned Morgan MS has suggested that a new cancer plan may be forthcoming.
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Mr ap Iorwerth believes this “lack of a comprehensive cancer strategy” puts Wales at odds with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations that every country should have one in place.
“Wales urgently needs a Cancer action plan to deal specifically with the need for early diagnosis and rapid treatment, and the wider need for patients to be supported throughout the system,” said Mr ap Iorwerth.
“It’s now sixteen months since the Cancer Quality Statement was published and in that time, patients are less likely to start their first treatment within the target time that when the statement was published. This simply isn’t good enough – put simply, cancer patients are being failed.
“Setting an ambitious target is not enough, it’s imperative that Welsh Government has a clear strategy on how they intend to meet it.
“But Wales doesn’t have that – instead, we have an incoherent mishmash of programmes and frameworks, and a complete lack of clarity on when a comprehensive strategy might arrive.
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“If we are serious about getting to grips with cancer then we need a Cancer Strategy, and we need it now.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have already published our strategic approach to dealing with cancer.
“Improvements to cancer services and outcomes are also included as part of our changes to planned care.
“The First Minister made it clear in the Senedd this week that we are committed to further improving cancer services and outcomes.
“Rather than publish another plan, our focus continues to be on ensuring the NHS delivers these actions.”
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