Cancer treatment delays need systemic attention

These targets, which were introduced in 1997, still apply to more than 200 different types of cancers and despite rapidly rising cancer incidence and increasing complexity of cancer care. Cancer pathways now require more intensive investigations, multidisciplinary decision-making, and specialist treatments, all placing strain on finite resources.

While technological and AI interventions have been suggested both by media and policymakers, attention needs to be given to understanding the causes and context of delays  – along with how they can best be tackled – argue Mary Dixon-Woods, Ajay Aggarwal and Richard Grieve in this BMJ opinion piece. They suggest that a national learning system approach, built on collaboration, could help provide the answers.

Read the article: https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s14