Experience of patients breaching cancer waiting times

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The extent to which failure to meet national cancer waiting times (CWT) targets causes clinical and / or psychological harm to patients.

  • IRAS ID

    206705

  • Contact name

    Jane Stevens

  • Contact email

    jane.stevens@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    BHRUT

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 1 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    The NHS constitution pledges that the majority of patients investigated for suspected cancer should receive the diagnosis of cancer, and commence treatment within 62-days of referral. Specifically the target is that 85% of patients receive their 1st treatment for newly diagnosed cancer within 62-days. This target has not been met nationally for over 2-years. This study asks patients who waited >100 days to start treatment to describe their experience of being investigated for, and starting treatment for cancer as a patient story, that is, in narrative form. The biographical narrative given by the patient will be linked to a clinical review of the case to investigate whether breaching the 62-day target by 38 days or more, in other words wait for treatment for over 100 days from referral has an adverse effect on the patient journey and patient experience.

  • REC name

    London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/0969

  • Date of REC Opinion

    7 Jun 2016

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion