Sophie Collett

Author: Sophie Collett

Posted on: 20 September 2024
Sep202024

The latest data on cancer waiting times published by NHS Digital reveals a troubling trend: many Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are struggling to meet critical targets, leaving patients waiting longer for essential treatments.

Cancer Targets by Integrated Care Board

In England, there are three key cancer targets:

  1. The Faster Diagnosis Standard: 75% of people should be diagnosed, or have cancer ruled out, within 28 days of an urgent referral.
  2. The 31-day Decision to Treat Standard: 96% of people should start treatment within 31 days of doctors deciding a treatment plan.
  3. The 62-day Referral to Treatment Standard: 85% of people should receive their diagnosis and have started their first treatment within 2 months of an urgent referral.

Across the board, these targets are continually being missed. Out of 42 ICBs, 31 did not hit any of the three targets, and not a single ICB hit all three. Only NHS North West London and NHS South West London Integrated Care Boards hit two out of three.

All 42 ICBs missed the 62-day Referral to Treatment Standard. In 8 of the ICBs, including NHS Sussex and NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, less than 60% of patients were treated within the 62-day target.

Cancer Targets and Types

The performance of ICBs varies significantly depending on the type of cancer:

  • Head & Neck and Prostate Cancer: Both perform poorly at both the 31 and 62-day targets, with fewer than 9 out of 42 ICBs meeting the target for either of these cancers.
  • Skin Cancer: Performs much better, especially at the 62-day target.
  • Haematological (Lymphoma and ‘Other’) Cancer: The 31-day targets were met in 31 and 37 ICBs respectively.

This data paints a worrying picture, with patients waiting longer for treatment across the country. By comparing the performance of ICBs across England, areas that require the most improvement can be identified.

Click here to view the map

About the Map

This map was created using data published by NHS Digital for the period July 2024, using the ‘Integrated Care Board’ map template. Diagnosis and treatment data from outside of the ICBs has not been included. For each ICB, tables have been created to show the performance of each cancer type within the ICB for the different targets.