Wait times for cancer treatment on the NHS are at their worst level on record since 2010, according to the health service’s data.
The number of urgent cancer referrals made to wait for more than two months to start treatment has already reached a record number this year, figures from NHS Digital show.
A total of 71,523 patients were seen outside of the 62-day standard over the first eight months of 2024, an 8.8 per cent increase from last year and the highest tally since at least 2010.
This year up to August, just two-thirds of urgent cancer referrals were treated on time. On the current trend, 2024 is on track to be the worst year for cancer wait times on record.
The monthly average number of people treated outside the 62-day window (8,851) over the past 12 months was the highest on record, according to an analysis carried out by the Liberal Democrats.
The NHS last met its target of treating 85 per cent of urgent cancer referrals within 62 days in 2015.
For the first eight months of 2015, 18,000 patients were treated outside the 62 days. For the first eight months of 2024, the figure was 71,500.
According to Cancer Research UK, 9 in 10 of such patients will not be diagnosed with cancer, but for those where the disease is found, early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment.
The NHS is also bound by a 28-day Faster Diagnosis standard, which states that 75 per cent of patients with suspected cancer should have it ruled out or receive a diagnosis within 28 days. This standard was breached in six of the past 12 months and was only just met in August, at 75.5 per cent.
Vital chances of survival
Helen Morgan, the Lib Dem MP who is also the spokesperson for health and social care, said: “When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it is often one of the most difficult moments of their lives. We know that starting treatment as quickly as possible is vital to chances of survival in many cases and it is heartbreaking to know that there are far too many cases where people are waiting too long for care.
“The previous Conservative government should hang their heads in shame. Their legacy of neglect and mismanagement of our NHS has left patients without the care they deserve. It is now down to the new government to rise to the greatest challenge facing us, rescuing the health service.”
Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Despite the tireless effort of NHS staff, huge numbers of cancer patients are having to wait longer than they should to begin their treatment. This can cause unimaginable stress and anxiety for patients and their loved ones.
“The last time all cancer wait time targets in England were met was almost a decade ago.”
Delays costing lives
Professor Pat Price, an oncologist who is also the co-founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign and chairman of charity Radiotherapy UK, said: “This alarming data reveals we’re experiencing one of the worst years for cancer treatment delays. It builds on years of normalised and dangerous treatment delays, that ultimately costs lives.
“For far too long essential treatments like radiotherapy have been neglected in terms of funding and prioritisation. It’s no surprise our cancer outcomes and waiting times continue to be at crisis point.”
A spokesman from the department of health and social care said: “Too many cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment so as part of our mission to get the NHS back on its feet, we will hit all cancer waiting time targets within five years, and increase the number of MRI and CT scanners.
“As part of our 10-year plan to radically reform our broken NHS, we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and research.”
