Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis

Over the past few years, pressure on NHS cancer services has been mounting.

Cancer waiting times, which show whether the health system is meeting its targets for quickly diagnosing and treating cancer, reflect the extent of this pressure.

Testing for cancer, diagnosing it and starting treatment quickly saves people from stress and anxiety. Not only this, but cancer that’s diagnosed and treated at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread, is more likely to be treated successfully.

December 2023 was the first month that the reported data on cancer waiting times reflected the new updated NHS England targets, as explained in our previous article.

The standards have been streamlined into three key cancer waiting time standards with associated targets that indicate how well cancer services are doing.

Here are the latest results in England for August 2026:

The Faster Diagnosis Standard: Target Missed

• 78.6% of people were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days of an urgent referral in August 2026. The target is 80%.

In the latest quarterly data (April – June 2026), performance against the Faster Diagnosis Standard following an urgent referral was lower for those diagnosed with cancer (54.8%) compared to those who had cancer ruled out (79.5%).

If the target was met, around 3,900 additional patients would have been given a cancer diagnosis or had cancer ruled out on time in August 2026.

The 62-day referral to treatment standard: Target Missed

• Only 71.9% of people in England received their diagnosis and started their first treatment within 2 months (or 62 days) of an urgent referral* in July 2026. The target is 85% and has not been met since December 2015.

If the target was met, around 3,700 additional patients would have been treated on time in August 2026.

The interim target of 75.0%, introduced in the March 2026 release, was also missed.

8.9% of people (around 1,400) waited more than 104 days after an urgent suspected cancer referral to begin treatment for cancer in August 2026.

The 31-day decision to treat standard: Target Missed

• 92.1% of people started treatment** within 31 days of doctors deciding a treatment plan in August 2026. The target is 96% and has not been met since December 2020.

If the target was met, around 2,100 additional patients would have been treated on time in August 2026.

The above data are specific to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own cancer waiting times targets.