# NHS England missed all three cancer waiting time targets in September

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/labours-cancer-crisis-government-failing-to-meet-crucial-targets-as-charities-warn-patients-missing-vital-treatment/
- Published: 2026-11-13T09:09:51+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T09:33:09+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/health/article-16287829/Labour-failing-meet-national-targets-cancer.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Health, Medicine, Politics, World

## Key points

- NHS cancer waiting-time targets were all missed in September.
- More than 71,500 suspected cases waited over four weeks for an outcome.
- Charities say delays can hold up vital treatment.

## Summary

NHS England missed all three of its cancer waiting-time targets in September, prompting charities to call for urgent action. They warn that delays in diagnosis can postpone vital treatment and add to the distress of people waiting to learn whether they have cancer.

The 28-day target is for 80 per cent of patients with suspected cancer to receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out by March 2029; September performance was 76.2 per cent, with more than 71,500 cases taking longer. Only 55 per cent of people ultimately diagnosed received confirmation within 28 days. Treatment also fell short of targets: 91.5 per cent began within 31 days of a decision to treat, against 96 per cent, and 70.7 per cent started within 62 days of an urgent referral, against 85 per cent. The Department of Health said all three standards were better than a year earlier and pointed to a planned National Cancer Plan.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.