74,000 people did not receive cancer treatment on time last year, as Labour urged to act NOW

Last year, 74,000 people did not receive NHS cancer treatment within the target of 62 days after an urgent referral, according to new analysis. This is particularly concerning when speed is of the essence when it comes to cancer treatment. With increased underfunding and privatisation, there has been a huge rise in people not receiving cancer treatment on time over the last decade. In 2014, 83.9% of cancer patients received treatment within this time frame. But in 2024, that figure stood at just 62.2%.

NHS cancer treatment: “thousands of lives are at stake”

Professor Pat Price, a leading oncologist and the chair of Radiotherapy UK, assured the Guardian of the seriousness of delayed treatment:

Thousands of lives are at stake because of the normalisation of cancer patients not getting treatment on time… Every four weeks of delay in treatment can increase the risk of death by 10% for some cancers

A coalition of more than 50 charities, One Cancer Voice, is urging the Labour government to act. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said:

Seventy-four thousand cancer patients waited longer than they should to start their treatment last year. Behind every one of these numbers is a family member, friend or loved one facing unbelievable stress and anxiety, where every day can feel like forever

According to the British Medical Association (BMA), there has been a real terms cumulative underspend of £425bn in public health spending since 2009/10.

The Conservatives (initially propped up by the Lib Dems) and now Labour have starved the NHS of funding to manufacture the argument for private provision of NHS services, with the profits further depleting healthcare budgets. Privatised NHS services now treat around 10% of patients, compared to 3% in 2011.

On 6 January, Keir Starmer announced “a new agreement that will expand the relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector”. Privatised services will provide an additional million appointments, scans, and operations a year – at a 20% increase.

The lack of funding comes at a time when the population is aging and healthcare needs are increasing. Cancer is one example of this, where there will be 20% more cases over this parliament than the last one.

“Incredibly distressing”

The analysis also shows that there has been a sharp rise in the people waiting more than 104 days for cancer treatment. That’s almost twice as long as the target of 62 days after an urgent referral. More than one in ten people (11.3%) waited longer than 104 days last year. That’s an increase from 6,000 people in 2016 to 22,000 people in 2024.

The Labour Party government launched a request for evidence for its National Cancer Plan in February. But given the NHS was treating substantially more people on time a decade ago, the lack of funding is clearly a key issue. In January, Starmer said “we need an NHS hungry for innovation”. While healthcare improvements are welcome, the NHS has gone backwards on previous achievements because of austerity.

Mitchell said:

The National Cancer Plan can be a turning point for cancer patients across England, but the UK Government must invest in staff and equipment, alongside reforms, if it’s to hit all cancer waiting time targets by the end of this parliament. It’s the least that cancer patients deserve

Laura Lee, chief executive of fellow cancer support charity Maggie’s, said:

Waiting to begin cancer treatment can be an incredibly distressing and anxious time. Every single one of those 74,000 people have had their lives changed forever by their diagnosis, and coping with that news can be so much harder when you also have to wait too long to start treatment.

Public services should be improving, not declining. But it seems the ideology of neoliberal politicians is preventing this.

Featured image via the Canary