People have been urged to continue to respond to symptoms of cancer and attend vital health appointments – after the Trust recorded the fastest diagnosis of cancer in the region for the second month running.
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust was the best performing trust in the North East for the 28 day ‘faster diagnosis standard’ in the last recorded month – scoring 85.71% in February – following a similar high score the month previously.
This standard is the time is takes for a patients to have tests, receive results and receive a diagnosis for cancer.
In the latest cancer standards published by NHS England for all NHS health trusts, the Trust has also reported above both regional and national averages in areas including:
- the two-week referral rule
- the 31-day standard (for cancer which has returned)
- the 62-day standard (for both urgent and non-urgent referrals)
Deepak Dwarakanath, medical director, has reminded the public about the importance of responding to symptoms early and attending appointments arranged with health professionals.
He said: “Our treatment of patients with an urgent health issue such as cancer is a key priority for us.
“These figures are so important in providing clear expectations about how long people being urgently referred for suspected cancer should wait to see a specialist and be treated.
“As the figures show, we are among the best performing trusts in the country for the speed we both diagnose and treat patients with cancer.
“We are always looking to improve the care we deliver – both in sharing good practice and learning lessons for the future.
“We want to remind our community about the importance of attending hospital appointments and follow-up consultations and treatment.
“Our clinicians and bookings teams work to support our patients in understanding the vital importance of attending their scheduled appointments.
“Early diagnosis and treatment is absolutely vital to improving health outcomes and savings lives.
“I also want to thank our staff for their commitment and dedication to ensuring cancer is being diagnosed early and treated promptly.”
To see the latest figures are published on the NHS England website.
