Cancer waiting times are critical as they track how long it takes for patients to see a specialist, get a diagnosis, and start treatment, holding the NHS accountable for performance and setting patient expectations.
- 28-Day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS): Patients should have cancer ruled out or diagnosed within 28 days. The target is for 75% of patients to meet this standard. This applies to those urgently referred by GPs, following abnormal screening results, or with breast symptoms.
- 62-Day Referral to Treatment Standard: Patients should begin treatment within two months of an urgent referral, with a target of 85%. This standard now includes those referred by GPs, abnormal screening results, and ‘upgraded’ cases from consultants.
- 31-Day Decision to Treat to Treatment Standard: Treatment should start within 31 days of a treatment decision, with a target of 96%. This applies to anyone diagnosed with cancer, including those with recurring cancer.
The new standards aim to provide clearer expectations and improve diagnostic timeliness, replacing the 2 Week Wait (2WW) standard which focused only on initial specialist consultations without addressing the complete diagnostic process. The FDS will better capture how long it takes to diagnose or rule out cancer, addressing the limitations of the 2WW.
While the changes are seen as a positive step, concerns exist about ensuring high-quality data and clear guidance for implementation. The replacement of the 2WW target may result in a loss of detailed performance insights during a time when the NHS is struggling with long wait times and missing targets. Current performance against the 62-day target is notably poor, with only 59% of patients meeting the standard, highlighting ongoing challenges in cancer care.
Cancer Research UK advocates for maintaining detailed reporting and emphasizes the need for robust political leadership to address systemic issues, increase funding, and improve NHS capacity and workforce to meet and exceed these new targets.