Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Chart of the Day
29 June 2022

Cancer treatment waiting times have surged in England

In April 65 per cent of patients started cancer treatment within two months, down from over 85 per cent in 2009.

Patients in England are waiting longer than ever for cancer treatment in England, data from the NHS shows.

In April this year 65 per cent of patients started cancer treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral, down from over 85 per cent in 2009. The number of people receiving care within two months has consistently been below the NHS’s 85 per cent target since 2016. The number of people seen within two months of a screening was also well below the 90 per cent goal, at 73 per cent in April.


Waiting times for cancer treatment has come under scrutiny in the growing delays for services across the NHS. Last year the New Statesman reported that it could take years for the NHS to clear the treatment backlog, as the Covid-19 pandemic has strained services.

In the last year almost 480,000 patients had to wait longer than the target to start cancer treatment after an urgent GP referral. The UK also has some of the worst cancer survival statistics among wealthy countries. It ranked 21st (with 86 per cent of patients surviving for five years or more) among 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for breast cancer and 25th for colon cancer (60 per cent).

[See also: Can the NHS clear its backlog?]

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday - from the New Statesman. The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team.
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
What is the point of inheritance tax?
How to win the next election? It's the data, stupid
Businesses must unlock the regional growth agenda

Topics in this article : ,