Download Faster Cancer Treatment Resource Update

May 2016
Faster Cancer Treatment Resource
Update
The Faster Cancer Treatment programme is designed to reduce waiting times for
appointments, tests and treatment and standardise care pathways for cancer patients,
wherever they live. The programme links with the whole range of initiatives designed to
improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and support for patients and their families.
Implementing the overall Faster Cancer Treatment programme supports the overarching goal of
Better, Sooner, More Convenient Health Services for New Zealanders. Cancer treatment is provided
across all DHBs, although not all DHBs provide all services. This requires DHBs to collaborate across
boundaries to ensure services are integrated and patients receive a seamless service.
Faster cancer treatment work programme key initiatives:
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implementing the faster cancer treatment indicators and new faster cancer treatment health target
developing and implementing national tumour specific standards
implementing the cancer service improvement fund
implementing the cancer nurse coordinator roles
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improving coverage and functionality of multidisciplinary meetings.
These will:
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improve the diagnosis, treatment and experience of care for patients with cancer
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improve clinical outcomes
improve the coordination of patient care and streamline access to different treatment and services
ensure best practice in treatment and care for specific types of tumour
enable international comparison of data
identify and improve any bottlenecks and delays in access to FSA, diagnostic procedures and
treatment.
Faster Cancer Treatment health target
The faster cancer treatment 62 day indicator is now the cancer health target. By July 2016 DHBs are
expected to ensure that 85 per cent of patients triaged onto the 62 day pathway receive their first
cancer treatment within 62 days. The target achievement level will be raised to 90 per cent by July
2017. DHB results are published publicly each quarter.
31 day indicator
The maximum target length of time a patient should have to wait from date of decision-to-treat to
receive their first treatment (or other management) for cancer.
The 31 day indicator includes all patients who receive their first cancer treatment, irrespective of how
they were initially referred including those with a confirmed malignancy and those diagnosed through
a screening programme.
UPDATED RESOURCE
The link (pdf) displayed when a referral is made
with a ‘High Suspicion of Cancer’ has been
updated - ‘High Suspicion of Cancer - Updated
March 2016’. Please read the updated guidance
th
that was made live on the system on the 18 May.
This resource is a combination of four documents released by the Ministry of Health and the NZGG to
support you with more guidance including red flags and risks. It also identifies new tumors streams
that have been included in the ‘Faster Cancer Treatment’ programme.