Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis

This article provides information on the latest performance against cancer waiting times targets. We have another piece explaining the recent changes to cancer waiting times in England.

Over the past few years, pressure on NHS cancer services has been mounting.

Cancer waiting times, which show whether the health system is meeting its targets for quickly diagnosing and treating cancer, help show us the extent of this pressure.

Testing for cancer, diagnosing it and starting treatment quickly saves people from stress and anxiety. Not only this, but cancer that’s diagnosed and treated at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread, is more likely to be treated successfully. Prompt diagnosis and treatment underpin this.

December 2023 was the first month that the reported data on cancer waiting times is reflecting the new updated NHSE targets, as explained in our previous article. 

The standards have been streamlined into 3 key cancer waiting time standards with associated targets that  indicate how well cancer services are doing.  

Here are the latest results in England for February 2024:

The Faster Diagnosis Standard: Target Met

• 78.1% of people were diagnosed, or had cancer ruled out, within 28 days of an urgent referral in February 2024. The target is 75% and this is the first time the target has been met since its introduction in October 2021.

The 62-day referral to treatment standard: Target Missed

• Only 63.9% of people in England received their diagnosis and started their first treatment within 2 months (or 62 days) of an urgent referral* in February 2024. The target is 85%.

The 31-day decision to treat standard: Target Missed

• 91.1% of people started treatment** within 31 days of doctors deciding a treatment plan in February 2024. The target is 96%. 

The above data are specific to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own cancer waiting times targets. 

What does this mean for people affected by cancer?

It can be easy to forget that behind these numbers are real people going through an incredibly anxious time.

Quantifying the impact of missing targets and longer waits on patient outcomes is difficult as the research is limited.

The picture is different for different cancer types – some progress quicker than others – but we know the overall impact is likely to be negative. One study estimated that a 4-week delay to cancer surgery led to a 6-8% increased risk of dying.

People with more aggressive cancers are prioritised for early treatment where possible, but there can be good reasons why someone might experience a long wait for treatment.

For example, it can take longer to plan treatments intending to cure someone’s cancer, and sometimes patients need prehabilitation before starting treatment to give them the best chance of recovering well.

But increases in missed targets mean people who need potentially lifesaving cancer treatments are waiting, and worrying, for longer – and that is a big concern.

Despite delays, people shouldn’t put off coming forward if they are worried about symptoms. It’s always better to be on the waiting list than not at all, and if doctors are concerned, they will push things through as quickly as possible.

Getting back on track

Once again, the cancer waiting times published today represent unacceptable waits for cancer patients. Behind every one of these missed targets are patients, friends, family and loved ones who are facing unacceptably long and anxious waits to find out if they have cancer and when they can begin treatment.  

Whilst it is welcome that the Faster Diagnostic Standard (FDS) of 75% has been met, which is testament to the hard work of NHS staff in responding to growing demands for diagnostic tests, the 75% target is set well below the originally recommended target of 95%. We have not seen all cancer waiting times met since 2015 which represents a long-term failure to plan and invest in the NHS workforce and key facilities and equipment.  

Longer, Better Lives sets out the 5 missions that we want the next Government to adopt and implement to help reduce cancer mortality rates by 15% and prevent 20,000 cancer deaths a year by 2040. It provides the ‘cancer blueprint’ for political parties ahead of a 2024 general election, setting out actions which can be taken to ensure that services are diagnosing more cancers at early stages and so that those who go on to receive a diagnosis have access to optimal treatments.

To build momentum behind this, the next UK Government should commit to consistently meeting all cancer waiting time targets for England by the end of the next Parliament, and address NHS resource gaps by developing a 10-year cancer-specific workforce plan, eliminating the wider NHS maintenance backlog by 2030 and committing to rolling ringfenced capital investment for cancer. This will only be possible through significant investment in NHS staff and equipment, coupled with reform to cancer services.  

Progress in efforts to tackle cancer is possible. Thanks to lifesaving research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, survival for all cancers combined in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s.  But with cancer cases on the rise and improvements in survival showing signs of slowing, cancer is still a defining health issue in the UK. It’s vital that the Government takes bold action to address these growing challenges. This includes introducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which continues it legislative journey in Parliament next week. With thousands of lives lost to tobacco related cancers each year, the Bill is one of the biggest opportunities we have had to prevent cancer in a generation. 

With a relentless focus, and a long term plan on preventing cancer, diagnosing cancers earlier and reducing inequalities, bringing tests, treatment and innovations to patients more quickly and building a national movement to beat cancer, together – we can elevate UK cancer survival to amongst the best in the world and help everyone lead longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer. 

* Urgent referrals include urgent referrals from a GP for cancer symptoms or breast symptoms, urgent referrals from a cancer screening programme, and referrals upgraded by a consultant. 

It’s important to note that the update to cancer waiting times standards in October 2023 means that more types of referral are now included in the 62-day standard. This means that that the 62-day standard now applies to more people than before. 

** This standard includes people starting their first treatment for cancer and also people starting any subsequent treatments. Before October 2023, the 31–day standard included first treatments only.