Publication, Part of [MI] Urgent suspected cancer referrals: Referral, conversion and detection rates
[MI] Urgent suspected cancer referrals: Referral, conversion and detection rates, April 2021 to March 2023
Summary
The interactive tool provides data on urgent suspected cancer referrals (commonly known as, two-week wait referrals). These referrals can be used for people with possible cancer symptoms, to refer them to secondary care for investigation and possible diagnosis.
The tool reports crude referral rates, conversion rates and detection rates, by financial year. These rates provide insights into the volume of referral activity and the contribution of these referrals to diagnostic pathways. This information should improve the understanding of cancer diagnostic pathways and inform resource or intervention planning.
This release adds data for the April 2021 to March 2022 financial year and April 2022 to March 2023 financial year. For the first time, it also includes breakdowns by five-year age-groups, for England, NHS Regions and Cancer Alliances. It also updates the geographies included, to provide data for Integrated Care Boards and sub-Integrated Care Boards, rather than older geographies.
Key Facts
2.9 million urgent referrals for all suspected cancers, equivalent to 5,071 per 100,000 people
6% of urgent referrals for all suspected cancers resulted in a cancer diagnosis
56% of all cancer cases recorded in the Cancer Waiting Times data resulted from an urgent suspected cancer referral
Background
The rates are provided by combinations of selected:
- Geographies: from England, NHS regions, Cancer Alliances (CAs), Integrated Care Board (ICBs), and sub-Integrated Care Boards (sub-ICBs).
- Suspected cancer referral types or cancer sites: from All cancer, brain or central nervous system tumours, breast, breast symptoms, children's, gynaecological, haematological, head and neck, lower gastrointestinal (GI), respiratory system (lung), sarcoma, skin, urological, upper GI, non-specific symptoms, and other cancers.
- Demographic groups: from gender, 10-year age-group, 5-year age-group, deprivation and ethnicity.
Definitions
- Crude referral rate is the number of urgent suspected cancer referrals multiplied by 100,000 divided by the population.
- Conversion rate is the percentage of urgent suspected cancer referrals which result in a diagnosis of cancer.
- Detection rate is the percentage of cases recorded in the Cancer Waiting Times data as receiving a first treatment for cancer which resulted from an urgent suspected cancer referral.
Further methodology details are provided on the dashboard's Information page.
Feedback
Please send any feedback or queries to [email protected]. Please do not include sensitive or patient identifiable information.
Last edited: 17 May 2024 9:52 am