Download Implementing the 62-day faster cancer treatment

Faster Cancer Treatment:
Implementing the 62-day faster
cancer treatment health target
Dr Andrew Simpson, National Clinical Director Cancer,
New Zealand Ministry of Health.
1093
Disclosure: Acknowledgement that Dr Simpson is also
the Faster Cancer Treatment Health Target Champion.
Faster Cancer Treatment:
Implementing the 62-day faster
cancer treatment health target
Dr Andrew Simpson, National Clinical Director Cancer,
New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Six national health targets
These New Zealand Ministry of Health
targets that are designed to improve
the performance of health services
that reflect significant public and
government priorities.
2007–14
Previous wait
times target
By 2014 all patients
ready for radiotherapy
or chemotherapy
waiting less than
four weeks.
65%
Baseline
performance.
Performance reported publicly
on a quarterly basis
Regular reporting is important in
encouraging positive change in the
health sector and improving the public’s
confidence in our health system.
2014
new target
Faster cancer
treatment target
introduced to reduce
waiting times further
and support continued
improvement
in services.
Receive first
cancer treatment
within 62 days
of being referred
urgently with a high
suspicion of cancer
and a need to be seen
within two weeks.
85%
90%
The target by
July 2016.
The target by
June 2017.
Transparency and accountability
Helps to identify bottlenecks in the system and drive service improvement.
Significant progress has already been made in reducing cancer waits and
the new target will provide additional challenges. Reporting is already providing
new opportunities to identify where the cancer pathway is working
well and where improvements can be made that benefit all cancer patients.
Faster Cancer Treatment:
Implementing the 62-day faster
cancer treatment health target
Dr Andrew Simpson, National Clinical Director Cancer,
New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Monitoring the whole journey
The new target allows us, for the first
time, to monitor the whole journey
for a cancer patient, from first referral
to first treatment.
Leveraging improvement
While the target only applies to a
specific cohort of patients, there is
real potential for improvement
through the whole care pathway that
will benefit all cancer patients.
outcomes
Broader focus
covering the tests
and investigations
needed to confirm
a cancer diagnosis,
through to all
forms of treatment.
Prompt investigation
Diagnosis and treatment is more likely
to ensure better outcomes for cancer
patients, as well as reduce the stress
on patients and their families during
a difficult time.
Substantial
variation
between DHBs
Improving the
volume and
quality of data.
Target Champion
Dr Andrew Simpson is the faster
cancer treatment health target
champion and helps support the
sector and drive improvements.
Further information on faster cancer
treatment and the health targets can
be found at www.health.govt.nz
Clinical engagement
Is critical to ensure the target is
seen as a quality improvement
initiative and drives genuine service
improvements.