NHS data reveals progress of Faster Diagnosis Standard amid new government pledge to eliminate regional postcode lotteries.
In this visualisation, we have mapped NHS Cancer Waiting Times figures at the ICB level. Double click on the map or use the search bar to view statistics in your area. Alternatively, click here to launch the full visualisation.
New NHS England data reveals 76.5% of patients now receiving a definitive diagnosis or rule-out within 28 days. This performance exceeds the 75% standard and marks an improvement from October.
However, challenges remain in treatment start times. The 62-day standard for beginning treatment following an urgent referral stands at 70.2%, still below the 85% national target.
📍 Geographical highlights: NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB led diagnosis rates at 86%, while North West London ICB (31-day) and NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB (62-day) also hit top marks.
📰 The new data comes as the government announced a major push to end the cancer “postcode lottery” for patients, promising more specialists in rural and coastal communities.
✍ Michelle Mitchell OBE, chief executive at Cancer Research UK (CRUK): “Beating cancer must mean beating it for everybody, and the national cancer plan for England has a huge opportunity to bring us closer to this goal.”
