A sharp rise in cancer patients in England for months of treatment cancer
Numbers indicate that the percentage of cancer patients in England who suffer from long wait for treatment has been almost treated.
An analysis by Cancer Research UK exclusively to The Guardian was that there was an increase in the number of patients in England, England, more than 104 days to treat urgent cancer, from more than 6000 patients in 2016 to 22,000 last year.
In 2024, more than 11 % of cancer patients waited longer than 104 days to start treatment, which was three times a rate of 4.4 % in 2016.
The latest numbers of NHS England show a slight improvement in the number of patients treated on time. In December, 66.4 % of patients were treated within 62 days of urgent referral, with a marginal increase of 64.5 % in November.
The goal is to treat 85 % of cancer patients within 62 days, but this has not been fulfilled in any month since December 2015. Even if patients are indicated by examination or from their advisor, less than a third of patients are still not treated. on time.
According to Cancer Research UK, the last time NHS received the goal to treat 85 % of cancer patients within two months of urgent referral in 2013.
The charitable establishment calculates that in 2024, 74,000 patients have waited longer than 62 days to start cancer treatment.
One alliance of more than 50 charities of leading cancer in the UK said that the slow improvement rate in times of treatment was not good enough.
the government Its cancer plan is re -operated In February, charities and experts said that without more funding, he would fail.
“The national cancer plan can be a turning point for cancer patients throughout England, but the UK government must invest in employees and equipment, along with reforms, if it wants To hit all the targets of waiting for cancer at the end of this parliament.
NHS monthly data showed some improvements against cancer targets, with 78.1 % of people receiving cancer diagnosing permanently within 28 days of referral. The figures also revealed a 4 % increase in urgent referrals of patients with suspected cancer.
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But Professor Pat Price, a pioneering oncologist and head of radiotherapy in the United Kingdom, said that this is nothing to celebrate. “Thousands of lives are at stake due to the normalization of cancer patients who do not get treatment on time. We cannot bear the costs of celebrating the diagnosis of more cancer patients when these patients often end up huge waiting lists for treatment. Every four weeks of delay in treatment It can increase the risk of death by 10 % for some cancer.
“While marginal improvements in data are welcome, they cannot be allowed to hide the destructive crisis in cancer services. We need a tremendous effort from the government’s heart to convert this.”
NHS data also shows standard numbers for patients who wait for more than 12 hours in an accident and a few, while the delay in emptying patients who were fit enough to leave the hospital have also reached new levels.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Cancer Director, said: “We know that many people are waiting for a long time to treat cancer, but thanks to the hard work of employees, we have seen a real improvement this year against all three criteria – with all three criteria – with all three standards – With all standards.
“Although there is still a lot to do to ensure patients get diagnosis and treatment in a timely More than ever been diagnosed at an early stage, helping to ensure that the survival of cancer was not ever.
He added: “NHS is fully committed to improving access to cancer, and last week, we confirmed that the standard target of the fastest diagnosis will be increased, to see about 100,000 other patients receiving a diagnosis or all within four weeks of next year.”