Long delays before cancer treatment triple in five years

DELAYS of 104 days and longer to begin cancer treatment have almost tripled in the last five years.

- Hanna Geissler

The proportion of patients facing such waits after an urgent referral increased from around 4% in 2017 to 12% in 2022, when more than 20,000 were affected.

An NHS target for 85% to start treatment within 62 days has not been met since 2015.

Cancer Research UK and the National Disease Registration Service found those in their 60s, living in deprived areas or with multiple long-term health conditions were most likely to be affected.

Concerning

The charity is calling for further investigations to understand why the share of sufferers facing lengthy waits has increased so dramatically.

Michelle Mitchell, CRUK's chief executive, said: "NHS staff are doing their best but these figures are concerning. It's positive that more patients are being treated than ever and people are finding out if they have cancer or not faster.