Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the NHS to meet its target of referring patients for treatment for cancer within 62 days.

Cancer is a priority for this Government and survival rates are at a record high. The National Health Service is finding and treating more cancers in line with the ambitions set out in the Long Term Plan. Demand continues to rise and more people are also being diagnosed than ever before. The increasing demand has created a challenge in achieving the standard that 85% of patients commence treatment within 62 days following an urgent referral.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with providers, local systems and Cancer Alliances to improve performance. This includes £200 million investment in diagnostic equipment, the implementation of optimal timed diagnosis pathways and new Rapid Diagnostic Centres and actions to increase staff in key cancer and diagnostic professions.

Further to this, at the Government’s request, NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with clinical leaders across the system to review our performance standards and will update on this in due course.