What is a NHS 2-week wait (2WW) cancer referral?
In England, there is a ‘2-week cancer wait’ (2WW) referral. This is used especially if you have ‘red flag symptoms’ (Cancer – Signs and symptoms – NHS (www.nhs.uk).
This is an urgent referral system that means that you should see a hospital specialist within 2 weeks of the referral from your GP. It is a key NHS target that is your legal right in the ‘NHS Constitution’ (for England). 93% of patients should achieve the target. It was last achieved in December 2015.
Unfortunately most NHS hospitals interpret the target to mean ‘you will be contacted within 2 weeks about when you will be seen’. So patients often wait 4-6 weeks to be seen by the relevant specialist.
Anyway. If you have not had an appointment within 2 weeks from the hospital please call your GP surgery and they will be able to chase the appointment for you.
In Northern Ireland, the 2 week wait only applies if you are referred for suspected breast cancer. This 2 week time frame is not part of the waiting time targets for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But wherever you live, you should be seen as quickly as possible. Ask your GP when you are likely to get an appointment.
Does this mean I have cancer?
No. It is us being careful. It is normal to worry when you are urgently referred to see a specialist by your GP. However, more than 9 in every 10 people (90%) referred this way will not be diagnosed with cancer.
Summary
We have now described ‘what is a 2-week cancer wait referral?’ What happens after that is just as important. That is why the NHS also has 2 cancer treatment targets: 31 days for the plan, and 62 days for the start.
Note. The 2 week target has been replaced by a 28 day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS).
