Harrogate and Knaresborough MP calls for NHS to be made top priority at the Budget as new figures show 17% of patients at NHS Trust had to wait more than 62 days to start treatment.

Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon, has called for the NHS to be made the top priority at the Budget in the coming weeks after the latest NHS data has revealed that Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust missed its cancer target in August.

In August, 17% of patients with an urgent referral didn’t start treatment within 62 days. It meant that 21 cancer patients in the past month were not treated within the 62-day standard window, with urgent treatment of cancer diagnosis vital for improving outcomes for patients.

Tom Gordon said that the missed targets were a reflection of the previous Conservative government’s “legacy of failure” on local health services and called for the new government to make the NHS the “top priority at the Budget”.

Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon said:

“Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the worst experiences someone can go through. I know just how hard it can be, having cared for my mum when she had breast cancer. Sadly, I have heard far too many stories from people here in Harrogate and Knaresborough that they simply are not getting the care they need when this happens.

“The previous Conservative government’s legacy of failure on the NHS cannot be overstated. They left local health services in our area to crumble and patients without the care that they deserve. 17% of people are still not getting treatment within 62 days. It is still a missed target. As it is, all patients should start treatment in that timeframe. Meeting arbitrary targets isn’t good enough on its own.

“I will be pushing the new government every step of the way to make sure that they rise to the challenge of clearing up this mess and rescuing local health services here in Harrogate and Knaresborough. That must start by making the NHS the top priority at the Budget.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The latest NHS data on cancer wait times can be found here.