Cancer patients are facing a “desperate situation” after the number of patients waiting more than a month to start treatment hit a record high last year, charities warn.
More than 30,000 people waited more than a month after being told they needed surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, “alarming” new data from NHS England reveals.
This is the highest annual figure since current records began in 2009 and more than three times as many people as just five years ago.
It comes amid increased attention to NHS cancer services, following King Charles’ revelation this week that he is being treated for an unspecified form of the disease.
Gemma Peters, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Today’s data confirms the shocking truth that 2023 was the worst year yet for cancer treatment delays.
More than 30,000 people waited more than a month after being told they needed surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, “alarming” new data from NHS England reveals.
‘These alarming figures mark a new low and highlight the desperate situation of people living with cancer.
‘Behind the numbers are real lives that are being turned upside down, with thousands of people waiting too long to find out if they have cancer and start their treatment, creating additional anxiety at an already very difficult time.
‘With more than 3 million people in the UK living with cancer and an aging population, this figure will only increase.
“We want to see a long-term cancer strategy to ensure cancer care is fit for purpose for the future, ensuring that everyone with a cancer diagnosis receives the timely, quality care they so need and deserve.”
NHS figures also show there has been a sharp rise in the number of people facing long waits in A&E, although the overall NHS waiting list continues to decline.
It is estimated that at the end of December there were 7.6 million treatments pending in England, corresponding to 6.37 million patients.
This is slightly down from 7.61 million treatments and 6.39 million patients at the end of November and the third consecutive month that the list has fallen.
But the number of people who waited more than 12 hours in emergency departments from the decision to admit them to admission reached 54,308 in January, a sharp increase from 44,045 in December.
This is the second highest number on record, just below the record of 54,573 in December 2022.
NHS England said emergency and ambulance services experienced their busiest activity in January.
Junior doctors in England staged the longest strike in NHS history last month, spanning six full days from January 3-9.
Rishi Sunak admitted earlier this week that the Government had failed to deliver on its promise to cut the overall NHS waiting list.
The Prime Minister said the Government had “not made enough progress” but that the strike in the health service “has had an impact”.
Other NHS figures show cancer services improved slightly in December, compared with November, but performance continues to languish well below target levels.
A total of 74.2 percent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer in December 2023 were diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days, up from 71.9 percent the previous month, but below the target of 75 percent. .
The proportion of patients who waited more than 62 days in December from an urgent referral for suspected cancer or a consultant update to their first definitive cancer treatment was 65.9 per cent, slightly higher than the 65.2 per cent in November, but also below the 85 percent target.
Brett Hill, health and safeguarding director at consultancy Broadstone, said: “The King’s shocking cancer diagnosis has refocused attention on the importance of early detection and timely treatment of serious medical conditions.
“With more and more people unable to access timely treatment and diagnosis for their health problems, it is an unfortunate reality that opportunities are being missed to detect some serious diseases at an early stage, which will ultimately lead to treatment needs. longer and more complex and worse results.”
And Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: ‘Thousands of cancer patients across England are facing unacceptable waits to be diagnosed and treated.
‘This week the UK Government admitted it has not made enough progress on its promise to reduce NHS waiting lists; As a result, patients and hard-working staff continue to suffer.
“The UK Government must take urgent action and provide additional investment for the NHS, alongside reform of cancer services, so that cancer patients receive the level of care they deserve.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “These figures also show that we saw record numbers of urgent cancer referrals last year, and record numbers of patients who were diagnosed with cancer or discharged within four weeks.”
“We have invested £2.3 billion to accelerate diagnosis and have launched 153 community diagnostic centers across England, which will help us achieve our goal of detecting 75 per cent of all stage 1 or 2 cancers for 2028”.