England’s cancer treatment system is moving further away from the government’s waiting-time goals, with 71.2% of patients now starting treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral from a GP. The figure has fallen from 71.9%, according to BBC analysis of the latest performance data.
The government’s National Cancer Plan says 80% of patients in England should begin treatment within 62 days by March 2027. It sets a further target of 85% by March 2029. NHS data released on Thursday, covering July, showed that 10 out of 120 hospital trusts in England achieved the 85% level for patients starting treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral.
The distance between present performance and those targets has direct consequences for patients whose treatment is delayed. Research indicates that, on average, a cancer patient’s chance of survival falls by around 10% for every month they wait before treatment begins.
Alan’s experience illustrates the risks involved in a prolonged wait. He was diagnosed with lung cancer after a nodule was found in June last year. He then waited 128 days for an operation.
Scans were cancelled on two occasions because machines had broken. By the time Alan underwent surgery, the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. He is among thousands of patients each month in England who do not begin treatment within the target timeframe.
Radiotherapy UK has estimated that more than 2,800 extra patients would need to start treatment every month for England to reach the March 2027 target. The analysis says this would require a near 15% increase on current numbers.
The longer-term target presents a larger challenge. Roughly 54,000 more patients will need to start treatment within 62 days before 2029 if the government is to reach its 85% goal.
Prof Pat Price said the continued failure to treat patients on time would have serious consequences. She said thousands of patients "are going to die unnecessarily, just because the government can't get their act together to treat people on time".
The available data do not explain why performance has fallen from 71.9% to 71.2%, or whether the change forms part of a longer trend. They do show that England remains well below the government’s stated benchmarks, while patients such as Alan face delays during which their disease can progress.
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