NHS England on track to miss key cancer treatment target by 10,000 patients
Summary
NHS England treated 70.7% of eligible cancer patients within 62 days in September, below its interim target of 80% by March 2027. At current patient volumes, the NHS would need to treat about 2,850 more patients on time each month, while cancer diagnosis and treatment rates vary by cancer type and region.Key Facts
- The interim target is to treat 80% of cancer patients within 62 days of an urgent referral or consultant upgrade by March 2027.
- The on-time treatment rate fell from 71.9% in August to 70.7% in September.
- Radiotherapy UK calculated that about 24,400 patients a month must start treatment on time to meet the target; the current figure is about 21,500.
- Radiotherapy UK estimated a cumulative shortfall of 9,490 patients against the target at the current rate.
- On-time treatment rates were 70.1% for prostate cancer, 68.8% for breast cancer, 60.9% for lung cancer, 60% for gynaecological cancers and 56.5% for head and neck cancers.
- The Midlands had the lowest regional on-time treatment rate, at 66.6%; London had the highest, at 77.3%.
- Over the past year, 55.4% of cancer patients were diagnosed within 28 days of an urgent referral, below the 80% faster diagnostic standard target.
- Urgent cancer referrals in England rose by about 20% over four years.
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