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Cancer surgery wait times longer

Some of Perth's big hospitals rate among the worst in the country for cancer surgery waiting times, a national report shows.

The first hospital comparison of cancer surgery waiting times by the National Health Performance Authority found Fremantle Hospital was second worst of 49 big metropolitan hospitals for bowel cancer surgery in 2011-12, with patients waiting on average 28 days compared with the average of 15 days.

Although nationally 86 per cent of bowel cancer patients had their surgery within 30 days, Fremantle managed only 52 per cent.

Royal Perth and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals were also in the bottom six hospitals, each scoring 73 per cent.

A comparison of hospitals doing breast cancer surgery found 82 per cent of Joondalup Health Campus' public patients had surgery within 30 days compared with the average of 95 per cent, and RPH was also in the bottom four.

The authority said there were no maximum acceptable waiting times for cancer surgery but longer waits reduced the chance of a cure. Chief executive Diane Watson said breast cancer patients were least prone to delays for surgery while bowel cancer patients faced longer waits.

She said the report allowed hospitals to set targets based on other hospitals and learn from those that had shorter waits.

Bowel Cancer Australia chief executive Julien Wiggins said he was concerned bowel cancer patients faced longer delays compared with breast and lung cancer patients.

A WA Health Department spokesman said the report was based on old data and hospitals had improved significantly.

In 2012-13, Fremantle treated 90 per cent of bowel cancer patients within 30 days and RPH reached 85 per cent and also provided surgery for 98 per cent of breast cancer patients in 30 days.

A small number waited longer than 30 days, sometimes because surgery was cancelled for a more serious patient.