Official data show that one in three newly diagnosed cancer patients has to wait at least two more months for urgent NHS treatment.

  • 4400 patients with cancer in England were waiting more than two months to receive urgent NHS treatment
  •  That means 67% only were seen over the two-month period. However, the NHS’s goal is to reach 85%.
  • Labour denies this, while the Government claims that pandemic pressure may be partly responsible. 
  • The 85 per cent target was last met in December 2015, nearly six years ago










Official data indicates that a third of patients with newly diagnosed cancer in England have to wait longer than two months before they can receive urgent treatment. 

Just 66.7 percent of patients who received an urgent referral by their doctor for treatment were able to start treatment in the first two months.   

The result is the worst on record — and far below NHS England’s goal of treating 85 per cent of cancer patients within the crucial time-frame.

Covid pressures are likely to have played a part, but the problem dates back at least six years.

NHS statistics showed 4,410 out of 13,691 cancer patients diagnosed in the last two months missed out on timely treatment.

The key to improving patient survival rates is rapid treatment in chemotherapy and surgery.

NHS England aims to treat 85 per cent of cancer patients who receive an urgent referral from their GP within two months, but in October 2021 only 68 per cent of patients received treatment in this time frame. The graph above shows the October performance of meeting this target in the health service in England in the month of October from 2010 to 2021

NHS England is committed to treating 85 per cent cancer patients who have been referred urgently by their GP in two months. But, in October 2021, just 68% received treatment within this time frame. This graph shows how England’s health system performed in October between 2010 and 2021 in meeting the target.

Rapid cancer treatment is a key factor in determining outcomes for patients, charities have called the growing proportion of people facing delays for their treatment as worrying

The key to ensuring patients have the best possible outcome is rapid cancer treatment. Charities consider that worryingly increasing numbers of patients who are facing treatment delays as a concern.

The NHS’s Omicron-fueled staff shortages are worse than the rising Covid admissions 

Health bosses warn that the NHS’ staff shortages pose a greater problem than coronavirus infections.

Omicron is rapidly spreading and causing thousands of doctors and nurses to have to isolate themselves every day.  

According to Dr David Nicholl of the Doctors’ Association, the increasing number of absentees is ‘our most serious concern’ for the following weeks. 

Worst-case scenario modelling projected up to 40 per cent of NHS staff in London — the UK’s Omicron hotspot — could be off each day. 

Before the outbreak, hospitals had cancelled routine operations. This mirrors the worst days of last year’s pandemic. And A&E bosses have warned the crisis may leave doctors with no option but to focus on treating the most severely ill patients.

The staff shortages may cause more chaos to the existing health care system, which is already “functioning on life support”, according to frontline medical personnel. 

Chris Hopson is the chief executive at NHS Providers. He stated to BBC Breakfast, “We are now experiencing a significant rise in staff absences.”

«And quite some of our chief executives say that they believe that it’s likely to be a bigger issue and a more difficult challenge… than the sheer number of patients coming in for treatment due to Covid.

“So, what we are seeing in hospitals is that we are now having to redeploy personnel to fill in the gap left by Covid-related absentees in essential and critical services.  

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting referenced his own cancer today as he attacked the Government over the performance data.   

He said, “I have nothing to complain about the treatment I received for my kidney cancer in this year. The NHS is my life.” 

“But, I saw how exhausted staff were and that not all patients are as lucky as I was.”

He dismissed the claims that Covid pandemic tensions are the cause, and instead blamed Government mismanagement.

He said, “Patients are left waiting too long to receive cancer treatment for many years,”. 

The performance data was also criticized by charities. 

Shaun Walsh (head of public affairs at Cancer Research UK) stated that more needs to be done in order to prevent a “cancer catastrophe”.

It is very worrying. We expect winter pressures on the NHS to increase strain,’ he stated. 

“Earlier this year, the cancer services had shown improvement but the progress is now stalled and the situation is worsening.” Cancer patients can’t afford to wait any longer.

To avoid a catastrophe in the future,’swift actions are required from Government leaders and NHS officials. Government are due to publish a plan on NHS recovery – cancer has to be prioritised and chronic staff shortages must be addressed.’

A spokesperson from the Department of Health said that Covid pressures were responsible for waiting lists, while insisting that services have returned to their pre-pandemic level.     

According to them, “Cancer treatment and diagnosis remains our top priority.”

“The NHS is under enormous pressure due to the pandemic. Waiting lists have grown, but most cancer services are now back at or higher levels than before. 

The NHS England 85 percent performance goal for GP urgent referrals was met last December 2015.  

A pandemic is causing fears about the possibility of thousands more cancer patients not being diagnosed.

Many were scared of getting Covid or put off by No10’s “stay at home” message in 2020. Some had scans or appointments cancelled. 

Report authors stated that it was not known how many “missing” cases would return to NHS over the following months.  

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