How do people experience the National Cancer Waiting Times targets?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the experiences of English NHS managers, clinicians, and patients of the National Cancer Waiting Times targets?
IRAS ID
232702
Contact name
Heather Wright
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Southport and Ormskrik NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
What are the experiences of English NHS managers, clinicians and patients of the National Cancer Waiting Times Targets? An exploration of peoples’ understanding and personal experience.
Waiting times have been part of cancer services provision for over a decade in England, with the main indicator of performance a hospital’s ability to treat at least 85% of cancer patients within 62 days of being urgently referred by their GP. The main purpose of this research is to develop a deeper understanding of different groups attitudes, opinions and experiences of the targets. Participants will be recruited from hospitals and patient support groups in Merseyside. These volunteers will be interviewed to gain knowledge into their insights and beliefs. The questions will assess the different groups’ levels of understanding about the targets and what impact they have on patients care and hospital practice. This study is being undertaken to fulfil the requirements of a professional doctorate and as such it is expected that the findings will be fed back into the workplace to make improvements. It is anticipated that the results will provide a better appreciation of how services can be designed to meet the needs of all and improve performance against the targets. The introduction of a new target in 2020 which seeks to ensure all patients are diagnosed within 28 days of referral, makes this a timely investigation to aid forward planning.REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0320
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion