Cancer waiting times in 2023 worst on record in England

Cancer waiting times for 2023 in England were the worst on record, a BBC News analysis has revealed.

Only 64.1% of patients started treatment within 62 days of cancer being suspected, meaning nearly 100,000 waited longer than they should for life-saving care. The waits have worsened every year for the past 11.

Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive Gemma Peters called the figures "shocking".

"This marks a new low and highlights the desperate situation for people living with cancer," she said.

"Behind the figures are real lives being turned upside down, with thousands of people waiting far too long to find out if they have cancer and to begin their treatment, causing additional anxiety at what is already a very difficult time.

"With over three million people in the UK living with cancer and an ageing population, this is only set to rise."

The records go back to 2010, shortly after the cancer target was introduced.

However, improvements have been made over the course of 2023 in how quickly patients are diagnosed with 72% told whether they have cancer or not within 28 days of an urgent referral.

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Source: BBC News, 8 February 2024