More than 300,000 cancer patients will face long delays in treatment over the next five years unless the Government improves NHS performance, a charity warned last night.
Cancer Research UK projections suggest there will be 17.2 million urgent referrals for suspected cancer in England over the next five years.
The Government’s target is for 85 per cent of such cases to be treated within 62 days of an urgent referral, but that target has not been met since 2015.
In the first six months of this year, 65.9 per cent of cancer patients in England were treated within the target period, meaning more than 30,000 did not start treatment on time.
More than 300,000 cancer patients face long delays in treatment over the next five years unless the Government improves NHS performance, a charity warned last night
He said the NHS was seeing more patients than ever before but an ageing and growing population had led to record numbers of cancer cases.
Cancer Research UK projects that by 2029 more than 301,000 people will have missed out on timely treatment, while the number of urgent referrals for suspected cancer will rise by a fifth from 3.1 million in 2023 to around 3.75 million.
The National Health Service (NHS) was dealing with more patients than ever before, but an ageing and growing population had led to record numbers of cancer cases. Patients were also waiting too long for a diagnosis, mainly due to a lack of staff and diagnostic equipment.
The analysis comes a week after a major report into the NHS by surgeon and former minister Lord Darzi said cancer care in England still lagged behind other countries and death rates were higher.
Their study found there was “no progress” in diagnosing early stage one and two cancer between 2013 and 2021.
However, more recent figures suggest some improvement.
Cancer Research UK said a long-term cancer strategy was needed if the Government was to deliver on its promises to meet the targets. Chief executive Michelle Mitchell added: “Our NHS does not have the resources to cope with record numbers of people being diagnosed with cancer.
If no action is taken, things could be even worse in five years.
“We need to see long-term planning that provides the NHS with the equipment and staff it needs.”
Claire Rowney, chief executive of the charity Breast Cancer Now, said: “These grim figures underline a devastating ‘new normal’ of long waits for people to get a diagnosis and begin treatment that will give them the best chance of survival.”