Bowel cancer treatment and diagnosis times in Birmingham hospitals

Dame Deborah James has been making headlines with her work as ‘Bowel Babe’ and has inspired the nation to “check your poo”.

The BBC presenter recently shared with her followers that she was receiving home end of life care after her treatments had stopped working.

James, who presented ‘You, Me and the Big C’ on BBC 5 Live has raised over £6 million for bowel cancer charities in the UK since announcing her end of life news.

National World has been taking a look at whether hospital trusts in England are meeting key targets for diagnosing and starting treatment for bowel cancer cases.

In their research they found that the vast majority of hospital trusts are missing NHS target times for diagnosis and treatment.

NationalWorld found that NHS trusts should be meeting the 28-day standard for at least 75% of their patients and a 62-day standard for at least 85%

BirminghamWorld has taken a look at the figures for our local hospitals and how they compare.

People waiting for key tests used in diagnosing bowel cancer at the end of March 2022 stood at 359 for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.

This compares to 424 patients waiting for diagnostic treatment in March 2020.

At University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 5498 patients were waiting for diagnostic procedures at the end of March 2022, compared to 1,795 at the end of March 2020.

In March 2022, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust had 18 patients waiting for diagnostic treatment compared to eight in March 2020.

The waiting times for suspected gastrointestinal cancer patients has a 28 and 62 day standard for patients to begin treatment.

At Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in March 2022, 5 patients were starting treatment after a 62-day period.

In comparison in March 2020, 7 patients were starting treatment at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

351 patients also received a diagnosis or an all clear  from the hospital during March 2022 during the 28-day period.

In March 2022, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, 574 patients were given the all clear or a diagnosis in the 28-day period.

29 patients began treatment at the hospital during the 62-day period in March 2022, in comparison to 21 in March 2020.

At Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust they had no patients receive a diagnosis or all clear after 28 days and no patients begin treatment after 62-days in March 2022.

The hospital also had no patients receive treatment during the 62-day period during March 2020.

Below are the full results for each hospital:

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

People waiting for key diagnostic tests

March 2022

Barium enema - 0

Flexi sigmoidoscopy - 1600

Colonscopy - 3898

Total - 5498

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 6+ weeks

Number (total) - 3780

% (total) - 68.8

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 13+ weeks

Number (total) - 2970

% (total) - 54.0

End of March 2020

Total - 1,795

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 6+ weeks

Number (total) - 620

% (total) - 34.5

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 13+ weeks

Number (total) - 37

% (total) -  2.1

Waiting times for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer patients

28-day-standard March 2022

Number of patients given all clear/diagnosis - 574

Number given all clear/diagnosis within 28 days - 113

Number not given all clear/diagnosis within 28 days - 461

% within 28 days - 19.7

62-day standard March 2022

Number of patients starting treatment - 29.5

Number of patients starting treatment within 62 days - 11

Number of patients starting treatment after 62 days - 18.5

% of patient starting treatment within 62 days - 37.3

62-day standard March 2020

Number of patients starting treatment - 21

Number of patients starting treatment within 62 days - 4

Number of patients starting treatment after 62 days - 17

% of patient starting treatment within 62 days - 19

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

People waiting for key diagnostic tests

March 2022

Barium enema - 0

Flexi sigmoidoscopy - 100

Colonscopy - 259

Total - 359

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 6+ weeks

Number (total) - 19

% (total) - 5.3

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 13+ weeks

Number (total) - 3

% (total) - 0.8

End of March 2020

Total - 424

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 6+ weeks

Number (total) - 61

% (total) - 14.4

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 13+ weeks

Number (total) - 5

% (total) -  1.2

Waiting times for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer patients

28-day-standard March 2022

Number of patients given all clear/diagnosis - 351

Number given all clear/diagnosis within 28 days - 157

Number not given all clear/diagnosis within 28 days - 194

% within 28 days - 44.7

62-day standard March 2022

Number of patients starting treatment - 5.5

Number of patients starting treatment within 62 days - 4

Number of patients starting treatment after 62 days - 1.5

% of patient starting treatment within 62 days - 72.7

62-day standard March 2020

Number of patients starting treatment - 7.5

Number of patients starting treatment within 62 days - 5

Number of patients starting treatment after 62 days - 2.5

% of patient starting treatment within 62 days - 66.7

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

People waiting for key diagnostic tests

March 2022

Barium enema - 2

Flexi sigmoidoscopy - 0

Colonscopy - 16

Total - 18

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 6+ weeks

Number (total) - 1

% (total) - 5.6

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 13+ weeks

Number (total) - 1

% (total) - 5.6

End of March 2020

Total - 8

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 6+ weeks

Number (total) - 1

% (total) - 12.5

On waiting list for one of these tests and so far waiting 13+ weeks

Number (total) - 0

% (total) -  0

Waiting times for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer patients

28-day-standard March 2022

Number of patients given all clear/diagnosis - 0

Number given all clear/diagnosis within 28 days - 0

Number not given all clear/diagnosis within 28 days - 0

% within 28 days

62-day standard March 2022

Number of patients starting treatment - 0

Number of patients starting treatment within 62 days - 0

Number of patients starting treatment after 62 days - 0

% of patient starting treatment within 62 days

62-day standard March 2020

Number of patients starting treatment - 0

Number of patients starting treatment within 62 days - 0

Number of patients starting treatment after 62 days - 0

% of patient starting treatment within 62 days

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