This is what hospitals in Shropshire are doing to tackle cancer ‘underperformance’
Hospital trust leaders have set out how they are working to speed up cancer diagnostics and treatment in Shropshire as they continue to be ‘monitored’ by the national NHS.
The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals Trust (SaTH) has been monitored by NHS England since the Spring of 2024 due to “underperformance on all cancer standards,” a board meeting was told.
Ned Hobbs, Chief Operating Officer at SaTH said, after the board meeting: “We remain in NHS England’s Tier 1 oversight and are doing all we can to accelerate improvements in our most challenged cancer services, which continue to face significant pressures.
“We recognise and are sorry that some patients are waiting too long for diagnostics and treatments in some cancer specialties.”
Mr Hobbs said additional leadership expertise has been introduced with focus on improving both the diagnostic and clinical pathway.
“Recovery plans have been put in place across all cancer pathways to provide the best possible care for our patients.
“We are taking action to increase capacity with additional support provided by NHSE, West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA) and our healthcare partners to reduce waiting times for cancer care.”
A group has been set up involving SaTH and other ‘partners’ from across region to ‘focus on improving cancer pathways’.
The trust has received WMCA funding of about £1.7 million speed up diagnostic cancer turnaround times this year.
The monthly collaborative cancer improvement board has a key focus on improving access to the first appointment and improving access to diagnostic tests that are crucial to safe and effective care.
Board papers revealed that the combined cancer backlog has been reduced from 430 patients to 367 in the month up to the end of March 2025.
Documents shared with the board revealed that the trust has continuing clinical and operational workforce issues in oncology, urology, colorectal and head and neck.
The board was told that oncology waiting time for patients with prostate cancer have reduced from 20-21 weeks in January to two to three weeks as at March 31
Breast oncology waiting times also reduced from 10-12 weeks to 2/3 weeks during this same period.
Pic: Construction of the new four-storey healthcare facility at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by SaTH
