Northumbria NHS trust slammed for missing cancer targets

However, performance is still below the national target of 85%, with 78% of patients in the final quarter of 2023-24 receiving treatment within the 62-day window.

NHS England data revealed that as of February 2024, 59 patients in the Northumbria Healthcare area were waiting longer than the 62-day target.

While the Trust has seen improvements, there remains pressure on referrals for certain types of cancer, making it clear that the situation is not yet where it needs to be.

Delays in treatment can significantly affect outcomes, making the failure to meet these targets a serious concern.

Chris Jenkins, the Trust's Director of Performance and Governance, outlined several actions taken to improve access to services, including efforts to reduce the cancer backlog.

Chris Jenkins acknowledged that while the Trust has made progress in comparison to other NHS Trusts regionally and nationally, there is still so much work to be done.

Councillor Georgina Hill expressed strong criticism of the NHS as a whole during a meeting of the Council's Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

She voiced concerns that the missed cancer targets were costing lives, and stressed that despite assurances, the situation had not improved over the years.

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Hill described the situation as embarrassing, calling for fundamental changes to address the wider NHS crisis.

She emphasised that her anger was not aimed at local NHS staff who are under significant pressure, but at the broader national system. Chris Jenkins acknowledged that while improvements had been made, the Trust's performance was still far from satisfactory.

A report will be released at the end of the month with updated figures.

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