NHS Hits 80.2% Fast Cancer Diagnosis But Misses Treatment Target

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NHS has reached a new record with 80.2% of patients getting cancer test results within four weeks, up from 73.4% in January 2025.

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More than 203,000 people received their cancer diagnosis or all-clear within 28 days in February – 8,000 more than the previous month.

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The NHS delivered 3.1 million extra appointments between July 2024 and January 2025, helping to speed up cancer diagnosis times.

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It is fantastic to see a record proportion of people receiving vital results from cancer checks within the four-week standard," said Professor Sir Stephen Powis.

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Despite progress on diagnosis times, only 67% of cancer patients started treatment within 62 days of referral – well below the 85% target.

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Overall NHS waiting lists fell for the sixth month in a row to 7.4 million in February, with year-long waits dropping by 111,000 since last year.

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A&E and ambulance services improved with 75% of A&E patients seen within four hours and ambulance response times cutting 3 minutes off the previous month.

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Health Secretary Wes Streeting celebrated exceeding targets: "We promised 2 million more appointments in our first year – we've already reached 3.1 million in just 6 months.

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Cancer experts warn patients still face "unacceptable delays" in accessing treatment, with high hopes for the national cancer plan expected later in 2025.

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