Radiotherapy UK chair, Professor Pat Price, has responded to the latest NHSE cancer waiting list data (released Thursday, October 10).
Analysis from Radiotherapy UK and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign reveals the alarming extent of delays faced by cancer patients in the NHS. Data from July 2024 reveals that in just one month, together, over 9,000 cancer patients waited at least 195,000 days beyond the NHS’s 62-day waiting target.
Receiving treatment on time is crucial because for every 4 weeks’ delay in treatment, mortality can increase by as much as 10% for some cancers. Campaigners warn that the latest NHS cancer data (released October 10,2024) shows no significant progress for cancer patients, resulting in tens of thousands of extra days of cancer treatment delay.
Our campaign warns that this data underscores the urgent need for action in cancer care to prevent patients from becoming more unwell while waiting for treatment. While expanding early and faster diagnosis is crucial, far too many patients in the UK are being diagnosed only to face months of waiting before treatment begins. The mental and physical toll this delay takes on patients and their loved ones is immense. The analysis from the campaign demonstrates that for July alone:
- 9,398 patients were forced to wait a staggering total of 195,658 days beyond the 62-day target for treatment in July
- This delay is equivalent to 536 years in total.
Professor Pat Price, world-renowned oncologist and Chair of Radiotherapy UK said:
“Today’s NHS cancer waiting list data further confirms the legacy of deadly delays the Government has inherited. Cancer treatment delays are more than numbers or not hitting targets – they can mean cancer growing, patients getting sicker, requiring more complex treatment with more severe side-effects and can eventually mean people dying needlessly.
“Behind every number is a worried patient, someone’s family, friend or colleague. The new Government’s NHS reform pledge and the Darzi review bring hope, but we must now turn hope into action. We have the power to change this. Modern cancer treatments and technology, such as those in radiotherapy, can save lives today.
“But we need a comprehensive cancer plan to ensure these innovations and solutions reach those who need them. When it comes to cancer, delays to treatment quickly become a matter of life and death. The cancer community stands ready to work with the Government to deliver practical and cost-effective solutions to improve NHS cancer care.”
What can you do to help?
- Join 623,449 people and sign our #CatchUpWithCancer petition
- Email your MP and encourage them to attend our next event on October 23rd, 2024
