The United Kingdom government is projected to miss its target for treating urgent cancer referrals within two months, according to an analysis by Cancer Research UK. Experts from the charity suggest that the goal may not be achieved until 2032 unless improvements in care are made.
The pledge, part of the Government's National Cancer Plan, aimed for 85 percent of patients with suspected cancer to begin treatment within 62 days by March 2029. This target has not been met since December 2015. The National Cancer Plan also set an ultimate goal of three in four people diagnosed with cancer surviving for at least five years by 2035.
Currently, only 71 percent of patients in England start treatment within the two-month timeframe. The Cancer Research UK analysis estimates that by 2029, this figure will only rise to 77.8 percent, falling short of the 85 percent target. The two-month period begins when a suspected cancer is first identified, typically by a general practitioner, and concludes when treatment commences.
Achieving the 85 percent goal would require an additional 51,000 patients to start treatment on time over the next three years, the report indicated. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, stated that the figures demonstrate the need for the UK government to "urgently turn up the dial to meet its commitments in England." She emphasized that "Cancer patients deserve more than ambitions. They deserve an NHS that has the staff and equipment it needs to diagnose and treat cancer on time, giving everyone the best possible chance of beating the disease."
The charity is advocating for the government to release a national strategy detailing how it plans to enhance NHS capacity and to increase investment in hospitals specializing in cancer treatment. Mitchell added, "Publishing The National Cancer Plan is not a job done. Urgent action is needed, or too many patients will continue to wait too long for vital care."
Recent data also revealed that NHS delays for hospital treatment in England had reached their highest point in nearly a year, with the waiting list for specialists climbing to 7.33 million in July. This figure represented approximately 6.21 million individuals, some awaiting more than one treatment. Over 111,000 of these delays extended beyond a year.
A government spokesperson commented that Cancer Research UK's analysis "did not take into account future changes and improvements" planned through the National Cancer Plan. The spokesperson noted that while progress has been made against the plan's goals, "there is a lot more to do." The government intends to reduce waiting times through new surgical hubs and an expansion of NHS diagnostics, aiming to diagnose and treat cancer more rapidly.