Cancer Two Week Wait

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Care Transitions
Country
England
Publishing Organisation
National Health Service (NHS) England: Cancer Waiting Times
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Timeliness
Domain
Access / Waiting Times

Defining Attributes

Definition

Percentage that meet the standard: Maximum two weeks from receipt of urgent referral for suspected cancer to first outpatient attendance (from a General Medical Practitioner, General Dental Practitioner, Optometrist and any other referral source as agreed locally by commissioners and providers)

Numerator

Number of patients seen within two weeks (14 days) of an urgent referral for suspected cancer (Date First Seen minus Cancer Referral To Treatment Period Start Date minus Waiting Time Adjustment (First Seen) and the outcome should be less than or equal to 14)

Denominator

All patients seen within the period

Exclusions
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
Stratifications

By suspected type of cancer

Collection and Reporting Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Administrative data
Data Collection Methods

The National Cancer Waiting Times Monitoring Data Set requires the submission of data to monitor NHS providers' compliance with the government's operational standards for ensuring that cancer services (diagnosis and treatment) are delivered to patients in a timely manner.

Frequency of Data Collection
Providers are asked to submit data on a monthly basis.
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
30
Reporting Methods

NHS Cancer Waiting Times website

Reporting Frequency
Monthly and quarterly
Reporting Frequency in Days
30-91
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
Yes

Source and Reference Attributes

Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025