‘My cancer spread while I waited months for surgery’: The cost of England’s cancer wait times
BBC News reports on the growing concern surrounding cancer wait times in England, highlighting the story of Alan, who was diagnosed with lung cancer and faced significant delays in treatment.
Alan, aged 70, was meant to undergo surgery within weeks of his June diagnosis but ended up waiting nearly five months due to equipment malfunctions and a lack of communication from the hospital. During this period, his cancer advanced, making his surgery more complex.
Government targets for cancer treatment have been set at 80% of patients starting treatment within 62 days by March 2027, rising to 85% by the same date. However, according to NHS England data, performance has deteriorated since these goals were announced. Currently, only 69.9% of patients are receiving treatment within this timeframe, down from 71.9%.
Prof Pat Price, a leading oncologist, attributes this decline to a lack of planning and accountability. She warns that thousands of patients could die unnecessarily if the government cannot improve treatment times. Every month a cancer patient waits decreases their chance of survival by approximately 10%.
Salisbury District Hospital, while making progress in skin and prostate cancer, is still struggling to meet targets. Staff emphasize the importance of basic improvements, such as keeping appointments and IT systems functional, to tackle the growing wait times crisis.
"I was so frustrated and angry… I couldn’t understand why they would leave me like that," recalls Alan of his waiting period.
