Breast Surgery Program Abstracts

Purpose: Following the lead from the UK, the NZ cancer working group are recommending 14 calendar days to fi rst specialist appointment, 31 days to diagnosis and 62 days to treatment (1). In each category 90% is the target. This study aims to quantify current waiting times and identify barriers to effi cient management of patients with breast cancer. Methods: Data on all breast cancer patients referred from July 2011 to July 2012 were collected. The three primary indicators were recorded. Barriers to access were identifi ed. Results: In 2011 and 2012 the CMDHB breast clinic diagnosed and treated 677 new cases of breast cancer. A total of 267 patients were eligible for analysis in the study period. Fifty nine percent of patients received their fi rst service appointment within 14 days of referral (median 10.5 days), 80% received a diagnosis within 31 days (median 12 days) and 78% of patients received defi nitive treatment within 62 days (median 43 days). Barriers to timely care included additional imaging, comorbidities, immediate reconstructive choices and patient preference Conclusion: Current breast cancer treatment waiting times are not meeting the proposed guidelines in a high volume, well resourced tertiary centre. A median waiting time may be of more relevance when assessing the performance of an institution.