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NHS Cancer Waits: Just 3 Trusts Meet Target
25 Feb
Summary
- Few NHS trusts meet the 85% target for cancer treatment initiation.
- National target of 85% of patients treated within 62 days unmet since 2014.
- Government aims for 75% by March 2026 amidst ongoing delays.
As of February 2026, almost all NHS trusts across England are struggling to meet a critical cancer treatment target. The national benchmark requires 85% of cancer patients to commence treatment within 62 days of referral, a standard that has not been achieved since 2014. In the past year, only three out of 119 acute trusts met this 85% target.
The government has established an interim goal of reaching 75% by March 2026, acknowledging the persistent challenges. Data reveals significant variations, with some of the worst-performing trusts treating only around half of their eligible patients within the stipulated timeframe. Across England, 69.1% of patients began treatment within 62 days last year, a slight increase from the previous year but still considerably below the target.
