This article provides information on the latest performance against cancer waiting times targets. We have another piece explaining the recent changes to cancer waiting times in England.
Over the past few years, pressure on NHS cancer services has been mounting.
Cancer waiting times, which show whether the health system is meeting its targets for quickly diagnosing and treating cancer, help show us the extent of this pressure.
Testing for cancer, diagnosing it and starting treatment quickly saves people from stress and anxiety. Not only this, but cancer that’s diagnosed and treated at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread, is more likely to be treated successfully. Prompt diagnosis and treatment underpin this.
December 2023 was the first month that the reported data on cancer waiting times is reflecting the new updated NHSE targets, as explained in our previous article.
The standards have been streamlined into 3 key cancer waiting time standards with associated targets that indicate how well cancer services are doing.
Here are the latest results in England for February 2025:
The Faster Diagnosis Standard: Target Met
- 80.2% of people were diagnosed, or had cancer ruled out, within 28 days of an urgent referral in February 2025. The target is 75%.
The 62-day referral to treatment standard: Target Missed
- Only 67.0% of people in England received their diagnosis and started their first treatment within 2 months (or 62 days) of an urgent referral* in February 2025. The target is 85% and has not been met since December 2015.
The 31-day decision to treat standard: Target Missed
- 91.8% of people started treatment** within 31 days of doctors deciding a treatment plan in February 2025. The target is 96%.
Theabovedata are specific to England. Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own cancer waiting times targets.
What does this mean for people affected by cancer?
It can be easy to forget that behind these numbers are real people going through an incredibly anxious time.
Quantifying the impact of missing targets and longer waits on patient outcomes is difficult as the research is limited.
The picture is different for different cancer types – some progress quicker than others – but we know the overall impact is likely to be negative. One study estimated that a 4-week delay to cancer surgeryled to a 6-8% increased risk of dying.
People with more aggressive cancers are prioritised for early treatment where possible, but there can be good reasons why someone might experience a long wait for treatment.
For example, it can take longer to plan treatments intending to cure someone’s cancer, and sometimes patients need prehabilitation before starting treatment to give them the best chance of recovering well.
But increases in missed targets mean people who need potentially lifesaving cancer treatments are waiting, and worrying, for longer – and that is a big concern.
Despite delays, people shouldn’t put off coming forward if they are worried about symptoms. It’s always better to be on the waiting list than not at all, and if doctors are concerned, they will push things through as quickly as possible.
Getting back on track
Disappointingly, the data from today highlights that far too many patients continue to face delays before starting treatment.
Long waits can increase anxiety and, for rapidly developing cancers, impact the treatments available.
Huge progress in cancer survival has been made in the last 50 years. But the improvements are showing signs of slowing, and theUK is lagging behind international comparisons. With nearly 1 in 2 of us affected by cancer in our lifetime, cancer is still the defining health issue of our time. Improvements in research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment will be key to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer.
Last month the UK Government announced that NHS England would be integrated into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). To achieve the UK Government’s ambition of reducing the lives lost to cancer, it is critical that throughout these changes, progress against cancer targets continues to be prioritised, and functions and infrastructure vital for cancer are protected. Strong political will, alongside bold and sustained action, will be needed to meet all cancer waiting times targets by the end of the Parliament.
The National Cancer Plan for England is an essential opportunity to deliver a turning point for cancer. Bringing down waiting lists will be one key part of the puzzle, transforming cancer outcomes for everyone will require the plan to focus on diagnosing cancers earlier, ensuring the sustainable delivery of best practice treatment, reducing the prevalence of the biggest cancer risk factors and building a research-powered health service. Clearly defined and well-resourced, governance, accountability and delivery infrastructure will be crucial for its success.
We’ll keep campaigning to make sure that the 10 Year Health Plan and National Cancer Plan deliver the turning point for cancer we need.
That’s why we’re calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social care to ensure the NationalCancer Plan delivers the change needed for people affected by cancer now and in the future. You can sign our open letterhere.
* Urgent referrals include urgent referrals from a GP for cancer symptoms or breast symptoms, urgent referrals from a cancer screening programme, and referrals upgraded by a consultant.
It’s important to note that the update to cancer waiting times standards in October 2023 means that more types of referral are now included in the 62-day standard. This means that that the 62-day standard now applies to more people than before.
** This standard includes people starting their first treatment for cancer and also people starting any subsequent treatments. Before October 2023, the 31–day standard included first treatments only.
