REDUCING BREAST CANCER REFERRAL WAITING TIMES

That this House notes that breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK with over 40,000 women and around 300 men diagnosed with the disease every year; welcomes the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Left in the Dark report and campaign focusing on the referral system for women and men with breast cancer; is delighted that 98 per cent. of those referred urgently now see a specialist within two weeks; is concerned that every year 10,000 women are subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer after being routinely referred and wait up to 17 weeks for an appointment with a specialist; acknowledges Breakthrough's research which reveals that women want to be seen by a breast specialist as soon as possible and certainly no longer than two weeks after referral; and urges Ministers to consider a flexible approach to targets which reward progress towards shorter waiting times for everyone referred with breast problems.