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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

NHS England waiting times for cancer referral and treatment at record high

The analysis found that between April and November 2021 more than 90,000 women who may have breast cancer did not see a specialist within two weeks of GP referral.
The analysis found that between April and November 2021 more than 90,000 women who may have breast cancer did not see a specialist within two weeks of GP referral. Photograph: Dmytro Zinkevych/Alamy

The numbers of cancer patients facing delays in seeing a specialist for the first time and starting their treatment have hit record highs in England, amid fears that overstretched NHS services can no longer provide prompt care.

The disclosure comes as a new row over how quickly hospitals can clear the record 6 million-strong NHS backlog has forced ministers to delay publication of the long-awaited plan to tackle it.

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