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Alan, aged 70, was diagnosed with lung cancer last June following the discovery of a nodule. Although surgery was initially scheduled to take place within a few weeks, delays extended the wait to nearly five months. By the time Alan finally underwent the operation, the cancer had advanced and spread to his lymph nodes, complicating the procedure. Reflecting on his experience, Alan expressed his frustration, stating, “I was so frustrated and angry and couldn’t understand why they would leave me like that.” His scans had been postponed twice due to equipment failures, and communication from the hospital about the timing of his urgent surgery was sparse for weeks.
Alan’s case is far from unique. Thousands of patients in England experience treatment delays that exceed national targets every month. The government’s National Cancer Plan, introduced earlier this year alongside NHS Planning Guidance, aims to have 80% of patients starting cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral by March 2027, increasing to 85% by March 2029. However, recent data from NHS England reveals that the situation has deteriorated rather than improved, with only 69.9% of patients now beginning treatment within the 62-day target, down from 71.9%. Leading oncologist Professor Pat Price criticizes the lack of progress, emphasizing that “the government targets are now simply impossible to hit” due to what she calls a “complete loss of momentum,” and attributing current shortcomings to a “complete lack of a plan or accountability.”
Analysis by Radiotherapy UK, provided exclusively to the BBC, indicates that to meet the March 2027 goals, the NHS would need to initiate treatment for over 3,000 additional patients each month — an almost 15% increase on current figures. The pressure is expected to rise further as referrals grow across nearly all types of cancer. Professor Price warns of the human cost, asserting that “thousands of patients are going to die unnecessarily, just because the government can’t get their act together to treat people on time.” The survival chances of cancer patients decline by roughly 10% for every month treatment is delayed. While Alan’s surgery eventually cleared the cancer, it left him with debilitating pain, drastically reducing his quality of life. He laments, “I used to play golf and get out and about. Now I can’t do any of the things I love.”
Among NHS trusts working to improve waiting times, Salisbury stands out for making some progress though it still falls short of targets. Staff there emphasize that there is no simple solution, but steady efforts to nail the basics—such as ensuring patients attend appointments, maintaining IT systems, recruiting appropriate staff, filling surgical lists, and expanding capacity—are crucial. Much of their improvement has been in treating common cancers like skin and prostate. Despite these gains, challenges persist, including missed appointments due to factors like late notifications, illness, transport difficulties, or patient anxiety, which continue to strain resources. Emilia Scutt, cancer manager at Salisbury, highlights their approach: “We know cancer can be terrifying so we are a bit like a dog with the bone, backing up patients and supporting them wherever we can.”
Meanwhile, other trusts experiencing sharp declines in performance report widespread pressures, including rising demand, workforce shortages, and diagnostic bottlenecks. Some cite industrial action, staff sickness, reliance on external diagnostic providers, or systemic changes as factors affecting their services. These trusts are investing in additional capacity, clearing backlogs, and redesigning patient pathways, with early signs of improvement emerging. Steve Haines from Macmillan Cancer Support stresses the need for urgency and tangible results, saying, “If government is serious about delivering on the ambitions of the National Cancer Plan for England, it must match ambition with urgency.” He also calls for “visible progress” in establishing the promised National Cancer Board to oversee efforts to reduce waiting times and improve treatment standards. A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the challenges ahead but affirmed that the National Cancer Plan “will help more people get diagnosed earlier and begin treatment sooner” and expressed determination “to return cancer performance to the standards people rightly expect.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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