The 2-week Referral Rule for Colorectal Cancer: Bane or Boon?

Abstract

The poor survival rates for colorectal and other cancers led the government to introduce the National Health Service (NHS) Cancer Plan in 2000 [1]. The strategies of the NHS Cancer Plan 2000 were to reduce the risk of cancer, to detect early stage disease and to improve access to the cancer management team. To achieve these objectives, the Department of Health introduced the waiting time standards. The 2-week standard (TWR), which came into effect in July 2000, required all patients with suspected cancer to be seen by a specialist within 14 days of the referral by the general practitioner (GP) [2].