Hundreds of thousands of people have had to wait months for essential treatment
Experts believe thousands of patients could die unnecessarily if the NHS doesn’t get on top of the lengthy treatment delays uncovered in new research. An analysis by Radiotherapy UK showed over 500,000 cancer patients had to wait more than two months for essential cancer treatment in the decade up to November 2024.
Research published in the BMJ previously noted that a one month delay in treatment could lead to a 13% higher chance of death for that patient. This risk continues to rise until they receive treatment.
The NHS has a target to start treatment within 62 days for 85% of cancer patients. This target has been in place since December 2015 and currently only 69% of patients’ treatments meet the deadline according to The Guardian.
On Tuesday, February 4, the Department of Health and Social Care is set to relaunch the government’s cancer plan. Experts are divided over what impact the plan will make, particularly after NHS England dropped their diagnosis targets.
Originally, the health service aimed to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 but health secretary Wes Streeting admitted to the Health Service Journal that the government could not currently commit to meeting national cancer targets.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told Reach: “From research, to prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, this government is going to transform cancer care, catapulting it into the modern day and making it fit for purpose. The reforms we are making will see around 120,000 more people referred for urgent cancer checks get a diagnosis within four weeks and start treatment within two months. We will also deliver two million extra appointments in our first year in office, while investing an extra £1.5 billion in new surgical hubs and AI scanners to help catch more cancers faster.”
Professor Pat Price, chair of Radiotherapy UK and oncologist, warned these figures show “unacceptably low ambitions” and claimed it has “normalised dangerous delays” that could cost thousands of lives. He pleaded for the renewed cancer plan to be “brave and bold”, warning that if it isn’t “even more lives will be lost needlessly”.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, joined the conversation urging the government to “renew its ambitions” both around earlier diagnosis and better treatment. She emphasised: “This is key to ensuring that everyone can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
An NHS spokesperson told Reach: “Thanks to the work of NHS staff, more people than ever before are being diagnosed at an early stage of cancer when there are more treatment options – and survival has never been higher.
“Performance against all three cancer waiting times standards is higher than a year ago, with the most recent data showing that 77% of people referred urgently for tests by their GP received a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days, and over 90% of people started treatment within a month. But there is much more to do to ensure more people receive timely diagnosis and treatment for cancer, and we are committed to working with the Government to improve both waiting times and experience of care.”
