Cancer Research UK says England will miss cancer treatment target until 2032
Cancer Research UK analysis says England is on course to miss the National Cancer Plan's 62-day treatment target by March 2029, reaching it only in April 2032. The Government says the analysis ignores planned improvements.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Cancer Research UK says England is not on track to meet a key commitment in the National Cancer Plan, published in February. Daily MirrorL “Cancer Research UK says England is not on track to meet a key commitment set down by the Government in the National Cancer Plan, published in February.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “The Government is on track to fail in its pledge to treat urgent cancer referrals within two months in England, Cancer Research UK has warned.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Left · 1The plan pledged that by March 2029, 85% of patients would start treatment within 62 days of urgent referral, 80% would get a diagnosis or all-clear within 28 days, and 96% would start treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat. Daily MirrorL “It pledged that 85% of patients would start treatment within 62 days of urgent referral.”“a total of 96% of patients were due to start treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat them” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2On current performance, the charity says the 62-day target would not be met until April 2032. Daily MirrorL “current performance suggests it will not be met until April 2032” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “Experts from the charity say it could take until 2032 to reach the target unless care improves.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2Its modelling suggests 77.8% of patients would start treatment within 62 days by March 2029, against the 85% commitment. The Daily Mail reports that about 71% currently do so. Daily MirrorL “Modelling suggests 77.8% of cancer patients would start treatment within 62 days by March 2029” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “Figures show that just 71 per cent of patients in England currently start treatment within a two-month timeframe.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Left · 1The charity calculated that about 51,000 more people would need to start treatment on time between now and March 2029, on top of projected NHS improvements, to meet the target. It also said interim targets for 2027 and 2028 look likely to be missed. Daily MirrorL “around 51,000 more people in England would need to start treatment on time between March this year and March 2029”“interim cancer waiting time targets set by the NHS for 2027 and 2028 look likely to be missed” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Chief executive Michelle Mitchell said the Government must "urgently turn up the dial", that "Cancer patients deserve more than ambitions", and that publishing the plan "is not a job done". Daily MirrorL “the UK Government needs to urgently turn up the dial to meet its commitments in England” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “Publishing The National Cancer Plan is not a job done.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail adds that the charity is calling for a national strategy on NHS capacity and more investment in specialist cancer hospitals, and that the 62-day target has not been met since December 2015. Daily MailR “The charity is calling on ministers to publish a national strategy that sets out how the Government will improve the capacity of the NHS.”“a target that hasn't been met since December 2015” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2A Government spokesperson said the analysis does not take into account future improvements from the plan. They said performance against all three waiting time standards has improved over the past year despite record demand, and pointed to new surgical hubs and a major expansion of NHS diagnostics. Daily MailR “did 'not take into account future changes and improvements' that will be made through the National Cancer Plan.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily MirrorL “performance against all three waiting time standards having improved over the last year, even in the face of record demand” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2The Department of Health and Social Care said the relaunched National Cancer Board will scrutinise progress and advise ministers on further action, while NHS England declined to comment. Daily MirrorL “The recently relaunched National Cancer Board will scrutinise our progress against the commitments in the plan” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “NHS England declined to comment.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the charity's finding that the NHS will miss targets by more than three years, and lists all three plan targets.
- Emphasis
- The three waiting-time commitments, interim 2027 and 2028 targets, and the Government's reply including the National Cancer Board. Adds a separate WCRF study on rising cancer rates in younger people.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the current 71% performance figure or the December 2015 date when the target was last met.
- Charged language
- “anxiously waiting”
- For example
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“The NHS will miss cancer diagnosis and treatment targets by more than three years based on current performance, according to a leading charity.” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the story as the Government set to fail on a life-saving target, with a capitalised headline.
- Emphasis
- The 71% current figure, the 2015 last-met date, the charity's calls for a national strategy and investment, and the Daily Mail's reporting on record waiting lists.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 96% 31-day target, the interim 2027 and 2028 targets, or the National Cancer Board.
- Charged language
- “set to FAIL”“life-saving cancer target”
- For example
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“Government set to FAIL on life-saving cancer target: Patients won't be treated rapidly until 2032, analysis suggests” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Cancer Research UK says England will miss the 62-day treatment target of 85% by March 2029, with modelling pointing to 77.8%.
- About 51,000 more patients would need to start treatment on time to meet the target.
- Michelle Mitchell said urgent action is needed and publishing the plan is not a job done.
- The Government says the analysis ignores future improvements and that waiting-time performance has improved over the last year.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the target will be missed
- Left
- Presents the charity's warning that the NHS will miss targets by more than three years, alongside the Government's rebuttal.
- Right
- Says the Government is set to fail, citing the charity, with the Government's rebuttal near the end.
Cancer Research UK organisation
Says England is off track on the 62-day target, calls for urgent action, a national capacity strategy and more investment.
“Urgent action is needed, or too many patients will continue to wait too long for vital care.” — Daily Mirror
“Cancer Research UK is also demanding further investments in hospitals specialising in cancer treatment.” — Daily Mail
National Cancer Plan topic
The plan set the 2029 waiting-time targets and a goal of three in four patients surviving five years by 2035; the Government says it is making progress.
“set an ultimate target of three in four people diagnosed with cancer surviving for at least five years by 2035” — Daily Mail
Left1 article
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NHS 'will miss cancer treatment targets by more than three years'
Neutral Reports the charity's findings in detail with the Government response and a related study on cancer in younger people.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Critical Casts the findings as a Government failure, adding the Mail's earlier reporting on waiting lists.
- 7 Oct 00:03 First Daily MirrorL NHS 'will miss cancer treatment targets by more than three years'
- 7 Oct 00:55 +52m Daily MailR Government set to FAIL on life-saving cancer target: Patients won't be treated rapidly until 2032, analysis suggests
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.