Highlights - Report Card 2006

Disconnects and Waiting Times

Challenges

• Total time from suspicion of cancer to treatment remains too long across this country

Who's Doing it Right

• The UK's NHS cancer plan has achieved the following important milestones:
  • 99.5 per cent of all cancer patients are seen by the appropriate outpatient cancer specialist within two weeks of GP referral.
  • 99.5 per cent of UK patients begin their cancer treatment within one month of diagnosis for any cancer
  • 99.80 per cent of breast cancer patients start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis
• The Rapid Access Clinics (for prostate cancer) in Winnipeg and Calgary are two of several now setting the standard in Canada. The total wait, from first referral to pathology result, can be reduced by two-thirds compared to only a few years ago.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Leadership by cancer agencies is required to move rapid assessment forward
• Screening programs should not be introduced without the simultaneous organization of rapid assessment centres
• Rapid assessment concept requires family physicians, surgeons and pathologists to follow algorithms that can be developed cooperatively
• Canadian rapid access pioneers should be supported to teach and lead
• Surveillance and outcome measurement are essential