- Nearly all NHS trusts in England are failing to meet the crucial cancer treatment target, which mandates 85 per cent of patients begin treatment within 62 days of referral.
- New analysis of NHS England figures shows only three out of 119 acute trusts with comparable data met or surpassed the 85% target last year, with some treating as few as 45.4% of patients within the timeframe.
- The national 85% target has not been achieved since 2014, prompting the government to set an interim goal of 75% by March 2026, while overall England performance stood at 69.1% last year.
- Significant disparities exist, with some trusts seeing at least one in seven patients waiting over 104 days for treatment after an urgent referral, highlighting severe delays.
- Experts like Cancer Research UK call for more investment in NHS workforce and equipment, while the NHS acknowledges long waits and outlines a National Cancer Plan for improvements over the next three years.
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