Two-week cancer diagnosis target missed by half of NHS trusts in every month last year

Lib Dem Media Team: 020 4548 3828 Press@libdems.org.uk

Embargoed until 22.30 Tuesday 14 February 2023

Almost one in two NHS hospital trusts missed a crucial two-week cancer diagnosis target in every month last year, new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

NHS targets state that 93% patients should have an appointment with a cancer specialist within two weeks of an urgent GP referral. 

However, analysis of figures provided by the House of Commons Library shows this target was missed by 63 of 132 (48%) of NHS trusts in England in every single month of 2022. The Liberal Democrats warned that targets are being “routinely missed,” exposing “shocking gaps in cancer care.”

Only five NHS trusts, making up less than 4% of the total, met the target in every month of last year.

At the worst performing trusts in December 2022, fewer than half of patients were seen within the two-week target after an urgent GP referral. The worst was University Hospital Bristol and Weston where just 42% of patients were seen within two weeks. This was followed by Whittington Health (45%), Liverpool University Hospitals (48%), and North West Anglia (49%).

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

“It is a national scandal that crucial targets are being routinely missed, leaving many people waiting anxiously for a cancer diagnosis.

“It shows there are shocking gaps in cancer care depending on where you live in the country.

“The evidence tells us how critical a speedy diagnosis can be. The government must get a grip on this crisis so cancer patients get the urgent care they need to give them the best chance of survival. That must start with a proper plan to recruit the NHS staff the health service so desperately needs.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Analysis from the House of Commons Library and Liberal Democrats is available here

Original NHS data here