Cancer care in England has deteriorated since the government announced its plans to shorten waiting times and increase survival rates, according to BBC analysis. Radiotherapy UK's review suggests that to meet the March 2027 target, over 3,000 additional patients would need to commence treatment monthly, marking a nearly 15% rise in current figures. This demand is expected to grow as referrals for nearly all cancer types continue to increase.
Experts warn that this delay is costing lives. For every month a cancer patient waits to begin treatment, their survival probability decreases by approximately 10%. One patient, identified as Alan, experienced this firsthand when the cancer spread to his lymph nodes during a 128-day wait for an operation. Although his cancer has since cleared, the surgery has left him with debilitating pain, impacting his quality of life and ability to engage in activities he once enjoyed.
To achieve its treatment goal by 2029, the government must ensure approximately 54,000 more patients begin treatment within 62 days. While some NHS trusts, like Salisbury, are making progress in reducing waiting list numbers, they are still not meeting the established targets.
Staff at Salisbury emphasize that there is no single solution to the problem. Instead, progress relies on a sustained focus on fundamental operational aspects. These include ensuring patients are aware of and attend their appointments, maintaining functional IT systems, effective recruitment of qualified personnel, optimizing surgical schedules, and expanding overall capacity. Significant improvements have been observed in the treatment of skin and prostate cancers, which are among the most common types diagnosed in the country.