KEY waiting times targets for Wales on the beginning of treatment for cancer were met only in Gwent during the first six months of 2011.

And the area’s health board is leading the way in developing a new‘key worker’ system to co-ordinate patients’ treatment in hospital and afterward, back in primary care.

Wales has two cancer treatment waiting times targets.

At least 95 per cent of patients referred by their GP with urgent suspected cancer, and subsequently diagnosed as such by a specialist, should start treatment within 62 days of the receipt of that referral.

And at least 98 per cent of patients not referred as urgent suspected cancer but subsequently diagnosed with cancer, should start treatment within 31 days of diagnosis.

Cancer waiting times have improved greatly over several years across Wales as a result of increases in capacity and changes to referral systems.

During January-March and April-June of this year, Aneurin Bevan Health Board hit the 95 per cent target for the 62-day treatment route.

The Wales average for the first quarter was 91 per cent and for the second quarter 87 per cent. No other health board achieved that target.

For the 31-day treatment route, 99 per cent of Gwent patients began their treatment inside the target time during January-March and 100 per cent during April-June.

Meanwhile, Gwent will be one of two pilot areas in Wales for a new ‘key worker’ system to try to ensure patients have a single point of contact during their hospital-based treatment and after they are discharged.

In Gwent, the relevant clinical nurse specialist will carry out this role for those undergoing hospital-based treatment and the key worker in primary care will be the patient’s GP. Crucial to the systems’ success will be the handover process.

A health board report states the idea is already in place for many types of cancer, though it remains to be formalised.