![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/record-number-of-cancer-patients-face-over-two-month-waits-to-start-urgent-treatment/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TELEMMGLPICT000267772723_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq-LJS7LKjeK9Zr8QxHnNHGwpwjfeuChtHUoe9wtZBhk8.jpeg&description=Record numbers of cancer patients are facing waits of more than two months to start treatment despite an urgent referral, an investigation reveals. Data tracking in England since the start of the pandemic shows a doubling in the number of people facing such waits, despite a confirmed diagnosis. Charities said the findings were "deeply concerning", leaving too many people in an "unbearable situation". The NHS statistics show that by the end of August, more than 4,200 cancer patients had not started treatment, despite a wait of more than two months since they were urgently referred by GPs. The figure is more than twice the 1,958 figure recorded in February 2020, and only covers patients who had a confirmed diagnosis with cancer. The weekly statistics show continued growth in some of the most serious backlogs, despite repeated pledges. In the last year alone, the figure has risen by almost 50 per cent. 'Deeply concerning' Minesh Patel, the head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "These figures are deeply concerning. We are more than two years on from the pandemic and the backlog of people waiting for cancer care in England continues to grow. "These delays are having a devastating effect on people left waiting for months for news about their diagnosis, test results or for their treatment to start. It can be truly unbearable." Over the last decade, the number waiting at least a month to start treatment after a decision to treat has risen by 500 per cent, the charity warned. "Looming winter pressures threaten to worsen an already impossible situation for both healthcare professionals and patients," Ms Patel said. "The Government must urgently intervene to ensure people receive the care they desperately need before it's too late. "This includes guaranteeing that cancer budgets will be not be hit and providing the funding that overstretched services need now. "Without this, the situation for people living with cancer will only go from bad to worse and patients){kind=link}
Number of people facing such waits has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic despite a confirmed diagnosis, figures reveal
Record numbers of cancer patients are facing waits of more than two months to start treatment despite an urgent referral, an investigation reveals.
Data tracking in England since the start of the pandemic shows a doubling in the number of people facing such waits, despite a confirmed diagnosis.
Charities said the findings were “deeply concerning”, leaving too many people in an “unbearable situation”.
The NHS statistics show that by the end of August, more than 4,200 cancer patients had not started treatment, despite a wait of more than two months since they were urgently referred by GPs.