New data released by NHS England on 10 September 2026 has revealed that cancer waiting times across the country continue to fall short of national targets, despite the launch of a major recovery strategy earlier this year.
Analysis of the figures suggests that cancer care performance has deteriorated since the government’s National Cancer Plan was published in February 2026. The data shows a widening gap between the targets set for patient care and the actual experience of those entering the healthcare system with suspected symptoms.
Nationally, the 62-day referral-to-treatment target—where 85% of patients should begin treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral—remains significantly off-track. In June 2026, only 69.9% of patients in England started their treatment within that timeframe.
Performance in West Sussex
The national struggle is reflected in local performance figures for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which manages St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester as well as hospitals in Worthing, Brighton, and Haywards Heath.
According to the NHS England public data gateway, the trust recorded a performance of 75.8% for the Faster Diagnosis Standard in May 2026. This metric measures whether patients are told they have cancer, or have it ruled out, within 28 days of referral.
The target for this specific standard was recently increased to 80% for the 2026/27 period, meaning the trust currently sits below the national expectation. For patients at St Richard’s Hospital, these figures represent the frontline of a broader national crisis where administrative delays and diagnostic bottlenecks are lengthening the time between a first appointment and the start of life-saving treatment.
The National Cancer Plan
The government’s National Cancer Plan, which was introduced in February 2026, set out a roadmap to “hardwire” improvements into the NHS. However, recent analysis indicates that performance has actually dipped since the plan was implemented. The government has pledged that all cancer waiting time targets will be met by March 2029, leaving a three-year window for a substantial turnaround in services.
The NHS currently monitors cancer care through three primary standards:
- The 28-Day Faster Diagnosis Standard: Patients should receive a diagnosis or an all-clear within four weeks.
- The 31-Day Decision to Treat: Patients should wait no more than 31 days from the date a treatment plan is agreed to the start of that treatment.
- The 62-Day Referral to Treatment: Patients should start treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral.
While the 28-day target is intended to reduce anxiety for those with suspected symptoms, the 62-day target is considered the “gold standard” for ensuring treatment begins before a disease can progress further.
For now, patients who have been waiting longer than 62 days for treatment are advised to contact their hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) or their specialist nursing team for an update on their specific pathway.
