Waiting times slashed for 80,000 cancer patients after Labour's NHS cash boost

Waiting times have been slashed for 80,000 cancer patients after ’s cash injection to the to boost hospital appointments.

The Government invested a record £26 billion in the health service in last year’s budget, to help it recover from the pandemic and drive down waiting times.

“This government made tough decisions at the that put £26 billion into our NHS,” Health Secretary Wes Streeting said. “And patients are already seeing the results.”

A new drive to offer more appointments out of hours directly contributed to more than three-quarters (76.1%) of patients receiving their cancer diagnosis or all-clear within 28 days from July 2024 to January 2025.

That’s up from 71.8% the year before.

Faster diagnosis is linked to significantly improved cancer outcomes.

Mr Streeting said: “Too many cancer patients are facing agonisingly long waits for diagnosis and treatment. As a survivor, I know firsthand just how important it is to receive timely diagnosis so treatment can begin as quickly as possible.

“We are on a mission to drive down waiting times and our Plan for Change is already getting patients seen and treated faster, with 80,000 more diagnosed or ruled out with cancer between July and January.

“This is just the start, and we will continue driving fundamental reform of the NHS to ensure it is delivering for all patients once again.”

Elsewhere in the NHS, waiting lists have been cut by 193,000 since July.

And the government hailed its pledge to deliver two million extra appointments - including for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and diagnostic tests - being delivered seven months early.

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: "Waiting for answers can be an incredibly worrying period for anyone affected, so we welcome the government's commitment to further cut waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment this year.

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“The UK Government has the opportunity to improve things further and faster with their upcoming National Cancer Plan for England.

“More people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before, and our health service needs a long term plan to be able to properly prepare and help people live longer, better lives.”

And Eve Byrne, Director of National System Change at Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “We welcome these changes and the positive impact this will have on people living with cancer.

“We are looking forward to working with the government to transform cancer care by developing the National Cancer Plan. This is an opportunity to make sure everybody in the UK can access world-class cancer care, whoever they are, wherever they may be based.”