The Christie could face red rating due to 'flawed' cancer waiting times target

The minister’s letter came after Christie chair Jim Martin wrote to him arguing that the key cancer care indicator should no longer be used as a measure of the foundation’s performance.

Mr Martin wrote that without action The Christie faced being rated ‘red’ for quality by regulator Monitor, “based on a completely flawed target and relating to only 6 per cent of our patient population”.

He added: “Around 85 per cent of our cases are treated at our hospital within 31 days although as a result of their late arrival from other trusts we have only 10/12 days remaining within the 62 days to complete the treatment”.

He continued: “In my opinion and that of the [Care Quality Commission] we should no longer use this indicator as a measure of our performance. After almost three years of passing the problem around the system it has now reached a stage where someone needs to make a decision and return The Christie to its rightful place as a ‘green’ rated trust.

“To do otherwise will add more cost, further demoralise our staff, add even more confusion with members of the public and potentially attract adverse comment at a time when there are more important matters to address in the service.”

In December 2010 The Christie treated 58.6 per cent of relavent patients within the 62 day threshold.

Mr Burstow replied saying that national clinical director for cancer Professor Sir Mike Richards had written to The Christie’s chief executive setting out the department’s ‘proposals for moving forward’.

He wrote that the letter proposed “a local solution that rests with resolving patient clinical pathways and Inter Provider Transfers within the network”.

He added: “As you recognise, the problem lies within the Network as a whole.”

Professor Richards had offered a meeting to discuss the proposals with The Christie, the cancer network, the North West Strategic Health Authority, and Monitor, on January 28.

Mr Martin also received a response from Monitor chair Steve Bundred. Mr Bundred wrote: “You have declared to Monitor that you will not meet the 62 day target by the end of Quarter three. Once Monitor receives Quarter three data and following the meeting of the 28th, Monitor will, in discussion with Professor Richards, make an assessment as to whether you and your board are required to attend and escalation meeting to consider whether the Trust is in significant breach of its terms of Authorisation.

“If Monitor decides that the Trust is not required to attend an escalation meeting, Monitor will use its judgement to decide whether the Trust should be amber green or amber red rated.

“If the Trust is found to be in significant breach of its terms of Authorisation, the Trust will be red rated.”