What plans does the Welsh Government have to drive improvements in blood cancer survival rates?
Our approach to improving all cancer outcomes is set out in the Cancer Delivery Plan for Wales. This includes a focus on earlier detection and timely access to high quality treatment. It is too soon to assess the impact of the Single Cancer Pathway on the early diagnosis of cancer. This is a long-term change which should support health boards to plan and deliver cancer investigations in a timelier manner. Once people enter the healthcare system, we expect there will be shorter waits between referral, diagnosis and start of treatment. The success of the Single Cancer Pathway will also depend on important elements coming together, including the ability of GPs to make referrals in line with guidance and the capacity of diagnostic services such as pathology.
We already know that GPs are referring more patients than ever, following an update of the referral criteria in 2015. This has resulted in the number of referrals for haematological cancers doubling since 2014. We are also supporting GP referral and management practice through a national programme called the Framework for Cancer, delivered in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.
There are also important programmes underway aimed at putting sustainable diagnostic services in place.