Birmingham hospitals see success from improvements made to cancer care
Hospitals in Birmingham have made improvements to their performance in cancer treatment for the second successive month.
University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust’s board heard there has been continued improvement in its ’62 day performance’, which aims for patients to receive their initial treatment within that time.
A report showed the trust had achieved 64.1 per cent in cancer 62-day performance in August – slightly above its 64 per cent target.
This is the second month in a row it has surpassed its target after achieving 62.4 per cent in July, above it’s 61 per cent target.
Board members also heard there had been a significant increase in performance, compared with the previous year, of almost 15 per cent from 49.7 per cent in 2024.
Earlier this year, it was announced UHB had been placed in NHS England’s Tier 1 for cancer support which is the highest level of oversight and support and means they are amongst the trusts that are most challenged in these areas.
In response to this plans were put in place to address, a UHB Cancer Board was set up to provide oversight and trust wide improvement and continues to meet weekly.
The report said: “Performance increased at Good Hope and Queen Elizabeth (QE) sites, with highest performance seen at QE to 69.1 per cent.
“As part of the NHSE tiering programme, UHB remains in tier 1 for cancer support required for 25/26, as one of the most challenged providers.
“Trajectories by tumour site and capacity gap modelling for challenged specialties have been developed, as part of a model that focuses on 62-day first treatment performance and time from referral to first appointment.
“Weekly Task and Finish Group and assurance meetings continue to take place with the most challenged specialties which are Gynaecology, Head and Neck, Urology and Colorectal and Upper GI.”
At the board meeting, chief operating officer Iain Pickles said: “Over the past year, BSOL has improved the proportion of patients treated within 62 days by 15 per cent.
“That is the second most in the country so we are seeing a really positive improvement trajectory for cancer patients as well as our more routine elective patients.”
