Worst cancer diagnosis performance in two years for England

The government recently published a National Cancer Plan for England, including a pledge that the NHS will meet its cancer waiting time targets by 2029. The latest figures show a move in the wrong direction.

In January, more than a quarter of suspected cancer patients (27.2%) waited longer than four weeks to receive a diagnosis, missing the NHS target that no more than 25% should wait this long.

This represents the worst performance in two years, and the first time the target has been missed since September 2025. The last time waits were worse was in January 2024, when 29.2% of patients waited longer than four weeks for diagnosis.

Since then, performance had improved and the target met in 17 out of 24 months.

The total number of patients diagnosed in January 2026 was 267,700, 0.4% fewer than in the same period a year earlier in January 2025. The target was also missed then, but to a lesser extent, with 26.6% of patients waiting beyond the target for diagnosis.

The figures also show that NHS England failed to meet its second cancer target, which is that no more than 15% of patients should wait longer than two months to start treatment following their initial cancer referral.

In January, 31.6% of patients waited longer than two months for treatment - more than double the target maximum, and increased slightly from 28.1% the month before.

The treatment time target has never been met in recent comparable records which start from April 2022. Similar data from 2014/15 showed that at that time only around 17% of cancer patients waited more than two months for treatment.

National Cancer Plan for England

In response to the latest figures, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "It is vital that any patient with suspected or confirmed cancer can access the care and follow-up tests they need in good time.

"In the past 12 months alone, 225,000 more patients received a diagnosis for suspected cancer on time. This government will keep cutting waiting times, backing NHS staff and making sure patients get the high-quality care they deserve when they need it.

"Through our newly published National Cancer Plan, patients will also receive faster diagnosis, quicker treatment and the support to live well with cancer, following record investment in the NHS."

Overall waiting list has decreased

Across the NHS, the overall waiting list fell for the third month in a row to 7.25 million appointments in January, its lowest level since February 2023. The share of people treated within the 18-week target remained steady at 61.5%, and it remains to be seen whether the target that this should rise to 65% for March will be reached.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Waiting lists [are] at their lowest level for almost 3 years and more people getting treated within 18 weeks.

"Despite record demand this winter, A&E and ambulance services improved - meaning patients are getting help faster when they need it most, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, better planning and modernisation.

"But we won't take our foot off the gas. We'll keep cutting waiting times, backing NHS staff and making sure patients get the high-quality care they deserve."

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(c) Sky News 2026: Worst cancer diagnosis performance in two years for England