Mike Hedges AM welcomes the news that Cancer services in Wales continue to improve

Mike Hedges AM welcomes the news that Cancer services in Wales continue to improve

Welsh Labour’s Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has today welcomed the Welsh Government’s
Cancer Annual Statement which shows continuing improvements in cancer services in Wales.

Mike said… ‘this is very good news for cancer patients in Wales. This is a dreadful disease and this news of more people being treated with the target time is to be greatly welcomed, as is the news that 72% of people diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 survived for at least one year. The Welsh Government is committed to improving cancer services for people affected by the disease and I look forward to continued improvements in the years ahead.’

The NHS in Wales is diagnosing and treating more patients for cancer within target time than ever before. An additional 1,800 people were treated within target time compared to five years ago.
Despite demand for cancer services rising at around 1.5% a year, the Annual Statement shows performance has remained stable over the past few years and there have been improvements in some areas.

The statement shows in 2016/17:

• Of these, 15,912 (93%) were treated within target. This is 1,705 (12%) more than five years ago (2011-12)
• For the first time more than 72% of people diagnosed with cancer between 2010 and 2014 survived at least one year
• The Wales cancer patient experience survey showed 93% of respondents rated their care positively

Key workers were allocated in 86% of cases compared to 66% in 2013