Cancer Research UK has warned that the UK government is likely to fail its pledge to treat urgent cancer referrals within two months in England by March 2029. The charity’s analysis suggests it could take until 2032 for this target to be met, with current figures showing only 71% of patients starting treatment within the required timeframe. Cancer Research UK calls on the government to urgently address staffing and equipment shortages and publish a detailed strategy to improve NHS capacity in cancer care.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Cancer Research UK has warned that the UK Government will fail to meet its pledge to treat urgent cancer referrals within 62 days in England. The target, set for March 2029 by NHS England as part of the National Cancer Plan, aims to ensure that 85% of patients with suspected cancer start treatment within two months after a referral. However, current figures show only 71% of patients achieving this goal.
Cancer Research UK's analysis projects that even by 2029, just 77.8% of patients will begin their treatment within the target timeframe, falling short of the required 85%. This means it could take until 2032 to reach the two-month treatment goal unless significant improvements in care are made.
The analysis also revealed that more than 111,000 delays had stretched beyond a year, with nearly 9,000 waits exceeding 15 months, and almost 1,500 patients surpassed a one-and-a-half-year wait, while 235 patients waited over two years. A Government spokesman countered that Cancer Research UK's analysis did 'not take into account future changes and improvements' planned through the National Cancer Plan.
Written for “Cancer Treatment Targets Failed” on 2026-10-07,
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The Government is on track to fail in its pledge to treat urgent cancer referrals within two months in England, Cancer Research UK has warned.
asserted
UK → fail → England
Experts from the charity say it could take until 2032 to reach the target unless care improves.
uncertain
care → say → target
In February, NHS England promised that, by March 2029, 85 per cent of patients with suspected cancer would be treated within 62 days – a target that hasn't been met since December 2015.
asserted
that → promise → December
The pledge formed a fundamental feature of the Government's National Cancer Plan - which set an ultimate target of three in four people diagnosed with cancer surviving for at least five years by 2035.
asserted
which → form → 2035
Figures show that just 71 per cent of patients in England currently start treatment within a two-month timeframe.
asserted
cent → show → timeframe
According to the new Cancer Research UK analysis, by 2029, this number is likely to have risen to just 77.8 per cent – far below the 85 per cent target.
uncertain
number → accord → target
The Government will fail its pledge to treat urgent cancers within two months of urgent referral in England, Cancer Research UK has warned
The two month period begins when signs of suspected cancer are first spotted - usually by a GP - and ends when a patient then begins treatment, if the disease is confirmed.
asserted
disease → fail → treatment
A different target, called the NHS's Faster Diagnosis standard, aims to confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis within 28 days of an urgent referral.
asserted
target → call → referral
The new report estimated that an additional 51,000 patients would need to start treatment on time over the next three years for the NHS to hit the 85 per cent goal.
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NHS → estimate → goal
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK said the figures are proof that the UK Government must 'urgently turn up the dial to meet its commitments in England.
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Government → say → England
'Cancer patients deserve more than ambitions,' she said.
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she → deserve → ambitions
'They deserve an NHS that has the staff and equipment it needs to diagnose and treat cancer on time, giving everyone the best possible chance of beating the disease.'
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it → deserve → disease
The charity is calling on ministers to publish a national strategy that sets out how the Government will improve the capacity of the NHS.
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Government → call → NHS
Cancer Research UK is also demanding further investments in hospitals specialising in cancer treatment.
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UK → demand → treatment
Ms Mitchell added: 'Publishing The National Cancer Plan is not a job done.
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Publishing → add → Plan
Urgent action is needed, or too many patients will continue to wait too long for vital care.'
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patients → need → care
Last month the Daily Mail revealed that NHS delays for hospital treatment in England had climbed to the highest level in almost a year.
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delays → reveal → year
The waiting list for NHS specialists such as gynaecologists, gut experts and physiotherapists hit 7.33 million in July – the highest total since October 2025, when it stood at 7.4 million.
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it → hit → million
That represented around 6.21 million people, some of whom were waiting for more than one treatment.
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some → represent → treatment
The figures showed that more than 111,000 delays had stretched beyond a year,
Around 9,000 waits exceeded 15 months and almost 1,500 surpassed a year-and-a-half, while 235 had surpassed two-years.
A Government spokesman said Cancer Research UK's analysis did 'not take into account future changes and improvements' that will be made through the National Cancer Plan.
asserted
that → show → Plan
'While we have already made good progress on the plan's goals - with performance against all three waiting time standards having improved over the last year, even in the face of record demand – we know there is a lot more to do,' he added.
asserted
he → make → demand
'We will reduce waiting times further by diagnosing and treating cancer faster through new surgical hubs and the biggest expansion of NHS diagnostics in a generation.'
asserted
We → reduce → generation
NHS England declined to comment.
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England → decline → ?
The Aporia
