Report highlights substantial growth in long waits for cancer treatment due to NHS capacity issues

A new report has revealed a significant rise in the number of cancer patients facing long delays for treatment in England, with capacity issues such as insufficient staff and equipment contributing to the problem. The report found that the proportion of cancer patients waiting more than 104 days to begin treatment after an urgent referral has nearly tripled in just five years—from 4.1% in 2017/18 to 11.6% in the first quarter of 2022/23.

According to NHS targets, 85% of cancer patients should begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, but this is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. Between January and May 2024, nearly 10,000 cancer patients waited over 104 days to start their treatment, a situation worsened by ongoing capacity problems that predate the pandemic.

The study, conducted by Cancer Research UK and the National Disease Registration Service, found that half of the delays were due to “healthcare provider-initiated delays”—such as equipment failure, capacity issues, and administrative hold-ups. This suggests that many of the delays are not medically justified but rather due to systemic issues within the healthcare system, which needs urgent attention and reform.

Cancer Research UK is calling on the government to provide the NHS with the necessary resources—staff, equipment, and beds—to ensure timely cancer diagnoses and treatment. The report also highlighted that patients with lower gastrointestinal cancers, including bowel cancer, and those aged between 60 and 69, were more likely to experience long waits. Additionally, people from poorer communities and those with long-term health conditions were disproportionately affected.

Dr. John Butler, clinical advisor for Cancer Research UK, stated, “Every day, cancer surgeons across the UK are seeing patients who have had to wait longer than they should. Our ability to diagnose and treat cancer patients is severely limited due to a lack of capacity, and unless we plan now, the NHS won’t be able to cope with the expected rise in cancer cases by 2040.”

Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK, also expressed concern about the increasing delays, urging for a long-term strategy to address the issue. NHS staff, while working harder than ever, continue to face challenges in meeting demand.

An NHS England spokesperson acknowledged the work done to treat more cancer patients but recognised that more is needed to address the long waits for some. They pointed to the progress made in meeting faster diagnosis targets, though they also noted that much more work is needed to ensure all patients receive timely care. Similarly, the Department of Health and Social Care has committed to increasing diagnostic capacity, including doubling the number of MRI and CT scanners to speed up treatment.

The report emphasises the urgency of tackling the issues within the NHS to ensure cancer patients receive the care they need without unnecessary delays.