Waiting times for cancer care for patients in Shropshire have improved and a key NHS target has been met, according to their latest statistics.<\/p>\n
However bosses at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH) admitted they needed to do more to further raise standards.<\/p>\n
In November<\/a>, data showed just over two-thirds of people – 68.8% – who went to SaTH for a diagnosis got an answer within 28 days – that had risen to 86% in the current figures.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Ned Hobbs, from the trust, said increases in staffing had helped.<\/p>\n He added there had been a “huge effort from lots of colleagues” and a lot of work had been done to get people tested more quickly and to get the results reported sooner.<\/p>\n Faster diagnoses also made the hospital experience less stressful for patients, Hobbs said.<\/p>\n According to NHS targets, all hospital trusts should:<\/p>\n Diagnose or rule out cancer in 75% of cases within 28 days of urgent referral<\/p>\n Ensure the whole journey takes no longer than 62 days in 85% of cases<\/p>\n On the latter figure, the current figures for SaTH showed 70.2% of cases were seen within the 62 days – below the target but higher than the 60.5% revealed in November.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Hobbs said the second phase of their improvement programme would focus on improving that record and trying to further improve waiting times.<\/p>\n Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links