Cancer care - what you need to know about waiting times standards
Often, referrals and treatment for cancer on the NHS can be confusing - so how long can you expect to wait if you think you may have cancer?
How quickly should patients be seen?
There are currently three main waiting time standards for cancer care:
- The 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard: Patients with suspected cancer who are referred for urgent cancer checks from a GP, screening programme or other route should be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days. This means the removal of the Two Week Wait standard, which required a first appointment within two weeks, to focus on outcome over process.
- The 62-day referral to treatment standard: Patients who have been referred for suspected cancer via any route and go on to receive a diagnosis should start treatment within 62 days of their referral. This combines the Urgent Suspected Cancer GP referral, Urgent Screening and Consultant Upgrade 62-day standards, so patients receive equal focus and priority regardless of how they enter the pathway.
- The 31-day decision to treatment standard: This combines the first and subsequent treatment 31-day standards, so patients receive equal focus and priority regardless of their treatment type.
Looking ahead, the NHS 10 Year Plan promises more targeted cancer screening, a clinical trial of a cancer vaccine, and reiterates several other government plans to reduce tobacco use and promote healthier lifestyles. A National Cancer Plan is also expected to be published in the autumn.
