Designed to Tackle Cancer in Wales: Strategic Framework 2008-11

Cancer Policy

Cancer Policy is set out in Designed to Tackle Cancer 2, published in 2008. This includes a requirement for all MDTs to provide data for relevant "All Wales Cancer Datasets", and participate in national clinical audit.

Cancer Standards

The Welsh Assembly Government published Cancer Standards in Wales for ten tumour specific sites in 2005 that include requirements for adherence to and audit against nationally agreed clinical guidelines. They take account of NICE IOG.

Peer Review

Trusts and MDTs carry out self-assessment against the National Cancer Standards using an on-line tool developed by the Cancer Services Co-ordinating Group.

Cancer Waiting Time Targets

Wales operates two cancer waiting time targets. The first covers the time between referral by a GP of patients with urgent suspected cancer. Those who are subsequently diagnosed should start definitive treatment within 2 months (62 days) of receipt of referral. The second covers patients not referred as urgent but subsequently diagnosed with cancer who should start definitive treatment within 1 month (31 days) of diagnosis, regardless of the referral route.

CaNISC (Cancer Network Information Systems Cymru)

CANISC, is the national clinical information system for cancer, which aims to make sure that important and relevant information is available to help in providing the best possible care to patients. In 2008/09, Welsh Hospital Trusts submitted data to a series of national cancer audits using the CANISC system. CANISC is also in use as a real-time system to support the Multi-disciplinary Team Meeting by making all relevant clinical information, including diagnostic and treatment information, available to support patient management.