Research conducted by the BBC has revealed that wait times for cancer treatment across the UK are too long, with only a quarter of patients being seen quick enough.
They explained that people with cancer are meant to start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.
But it seems many hospitals are falling short, with 94 out of 131 cancer services having failed to meet that target in the last year.
The BBC went on to reveal the exact areas that experienced the worst wait times, where only between 60-70% of patients were seen for treatment within the required 62 days.
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The locations range from all over the country, from hospitals in the south to way up north. So is your local amongst the worst?
What are the worst cancer waiting times across the UK?
In Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, just 60.8% of people were seen within the required time, whereas 62.8% were seen at Royal Wolverhampton
At Weston Area Health and Southend University Hospital, it was 67, where Bradford Hospitals was a close fourth at 67.1%.
University College London Hospitals had 68.4% seen within 62 days, while Mid Essex Hospitals Services was 68.5%. Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals came in at 69.2%, and East and North Hertfordshire was 69.2%
And at East Kent Hospitals, 70.7% of patients were seen within the acceptable wait time – leaving another 30% of patients still waiting for treatment after two months.
What are the best cancer waiting times across the UK?
There is some good news, with hospitals such as Kingston and Frimley Health seeing 95 and 93% of patients respectively within the 62 days. But of course, for those living in the above areas, a delay in treatment is likely a terrifying thought.
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A new report by Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called the long waiting lists in NHS England ‘unacceptable’, urging that they must ‘regain control’ on the situation.
According to The Independent, PAC chair Meg Hillier MP said, “NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care must regain control.
“The impact on individuals of protracted waiting times cannot be ignored. The committee heard from charities that the waits for cancer tests are ‘agonising’.”
