65,000 people wait more than 28 days for a cancer diagnosis each month

Around 65,400 monthly people in the UK are waiting too long to know if they have cancer, new analysis from charity Cancer Research UK has found.

Last fall, a new target was introduced that said everyone should be diagnosed with or excluded within 28 days of an urgent, referral referral for breast symptoms. or if they have been screened.

While the goal is for 75% of these people to receive a cancer diagnosis or be completely clear within a month, analysis from the charity shows this goal has not been met since it was introduced. . It was found to have changed, but stood at 74% in February.

Cancer Research UK also says that even if the target is reached, 55,000 people a month will still have to wait to see if they will develop cancer.

There is also a wide variation across the UK, with only 78 of the 143 trust hospitals meeting the 75% standard, according to the data.

Cancer Research UK says people are being let down by the system’s lack of ability to process the numbers that need to be looked at, and also says that due to chronic shortages of specialists across the NHS, the target target set too low.

Experts have said that if the Government wants to improve diagnosis and survival, it needs to raise the target to 95%.

Cancer Research UK says the meeting will see around 54,300 more people a month being diagnosed or ruled out with cancer within 28 days.

Diagnosing cancer early allows treatment to start faster and with a greater chance of success.

Michelle Mitchell, the charity’s chief executive, said: “As a country, we shouldn’t be ready to accept that more than one in four people on an urgent referral have to wait more than a month to find out if they have cancer. Nor should we support the differences that exist across the country.

“The government must take advantage of this opportunity to support the millions of people affected by cancer.

“With ambitious goals, a credible plan to achieve them, and clear accountability, we can get there.”

An NHS England spokesman said: “Record numbers of people who have received cancer screenings have been saved over the past year as we continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic and although it will not be. happens overnight, but the NHS is investing billions of dollars in further diagnosis. and treatment capacity – with a team of staff working hard to deliver on initiatives ranging from lung-scanning vans to cancer symptoms hotlines, for patients to be seen quickly and their cancer Theirs can be detected earlier.

“It’s important for people to keep moving forward if they have any worrisome signs or symptoms, as getting tested can save your life.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are committed to reducing wait times for cancer patients, which is why we are rolling out to 160 community diagnostic centers across the country. across the country – with 81 opened and over 800,000 additional scans.

“Our record investment in the NHS includes an extra £2 billion last year and £8 billion over the next three years to cut wait times, including providing an additional nine million checks, scans and operations. by 2025 as part of a plan to tackle the Covid backlog and bring about lasting recovery and reform. ”