According to official figures, one in five cancer patients in certain parts of England are waiting longer than two months to have their tumors removed. The worst waiting times are seen in North West and South West London, where 20.2% of patients did not undergo surgery within eight weeks of their cancer diagnosis. This analysis, conducted by the Labour party using NHS England data, reveals that waits are also long in other regions, such as the East of England, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire.
NHS guidelines state that 85% of cancer patients should start their first treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral. However, this target has not been met since 2015, with only 59.2% of patients starting treatment within this timeframe in June. These figures highlight the postcode lottery of receiving fast and quality care, with patients in certain regions experiencing significant delays in treatment.
Furthermore, NHS data on cancer waiting times showed that only six in ten cancer patients were seen within the two-month target. Over 6,600 patients had to wait more than 62 days to start treatment after an urgent referral from their GP. The analysis also unveiled that four in ten patients are waiting more than two months for chemotherapy in some parts of the country.
The Labour party’s analysis also revealed a correlation between cancer diagnosis and socioeconomic status. People in poorer areas are more likely to have a late cancer diagnosis, with 47% of patients in the most deprived communities being diagnosed late compared to 39% in the least deprived.
Shadow public health minister Andrew Gwynne criticized the Conservative government for their mismanagement of the NHS and stressed the importance of timely cancer care. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the need for improvement and highlighted the government’s focus on cutting waiting lists and increasing diagnostic capacity.
In summary, these figures emphasize the urgent need for improved cancer care across England. Waiting times for tumor removal and chemotherapy vary significantly depending on the region, with patients in certain areas experiencing significant delays. The next Labour government aims to prioritize timely treatment for cancer patients, ensuring that receiving quality care is not dependent on one’s postcode.
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