Welsh Government urged to invest in breast cancer services

The Welsh Government has been urged to invest in breast cancer services after figures showed continuing delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Breast Cancer Now said the target for 75 per cent of patients to be seen within 62 days of initial referral has been met only three times since the Suspected Cancer Pathway was introduced in 2020.

The latest figures, published on July 23, showed that 172 patients, or 60 per cent, were seen within 62 days of being initially referred.

The charity said performance varied widely between health boards.

Melanie Sturtevant, associate director of policy, evidence and influencing at Breast Cancer Now, said: “We have a bold vision that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer, lives and lives well, but to see this become reality in Wales we need real action and ambition from the new government for quicker and earlier diagnosis of breast cancer to save and improve lives.

“We’re ready to work with the new government to ensure people in Wales are diagnosed quicker and start treatment faster through reduced waiting times, and earlier with improved breast screening uptake through a breast screening awareness campaign, and provision of more convenient, flexible access to breast screening services.”

Breast Cancer Now called on the Welsh Government to invest in improving waiting times and warned of what it described as “complacency” in Wales.

It said health boards need greater support to identify and address the underlying causes of delays and measure performance at key stages of the cancer pathway.

The charity also urged the new government to prioritise earlier diagnosis by improving participation in NHS breast screening.

It called for Wales to meet the minimum screening uptake standard of 70 per cent and aim for the achievable standard of 80 per cent.

The charity said the NHS breast screening uptake target has been missed in Wales for the past seven years.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Wales, with 2,800 people diagnosed each year.

The number is projected to rise by 23 per cent to 3,449 cases by 2035.

Breast Cancer Now said urgent action was therefore needed from the new Welsh Government to make early diagnosis a priority.

In response, the Welsh Government said: “We recognise that performance against cancer waiting times is not where we want it to be which is why, as a new Government, we are taking decisive action on cancer by developing a 10-year National Cancer Strategy to transform the way the health service prevents, diagnoses, and treats the disease.

“The strategy will set out an ambitious vision for cancer care in Wales. This will include emphasis on earlier diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer.

“Optimal pathways of care for all types of cancer will be developed in partnership with patients and clinical experts to ensure that modern, evidence-based care is available wherever a person lives in Wales.

“In the meantime, NHS Performance and Improvement is working with health boards in Wales to improve cancer waiting time performance.”