Responding to Cancer Waiting Times for January 2026, leading oncologist and co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, Professor Pat Price, said:
“Today’s waiting times show just how far we are from addressing deadly delays that cancer patients routinely face. In some areas, we are 25% away from meeting the NHS target, and local cancer services are in crisis. Fixing this shouldn’t have to be a ‘shot in the dark’ ask, clinicians have solutions that can help. Now that the Government has set a deadline of meeting all waiting times by 2029, we need urgent action.
These are the first NHS cancer stats since the Government launched its National Cancer Plan, and we need to see that words are translated into action. The current gap in performance and the ambition to meet targets over the next three years is like climbing Mount Everest – without the people and the kit, we will not reach the summit. This goal has been set by the Government, and we won’t meet it unless we make the necessary investment in radiotherapy before lives are needlessly taken.
I urge the Department for Health and Social Care to strongly consider the valuable role that radiotherapy can play in supporting healthier and happier lives.”