Long Wait Times Exceeding 200 Days
Recent data revealed that up to 700 cancer patients in the UK are facing agonizing waits of more than six months for treatment. Shockingly, 59 per cent of NHS trusts reported that their longest cancer waiting times exceeded 200 days, with 12 per cent experiencing queues lasting over a year.
NHS Targets Unmet for Almost a Decade
Despite NHS targets stating that no one should wait more than two months between referral and treatment, this goal has not been achieved in nearly a decade. Currently, one in three patients are left untreated for over 62 days.
Labour's Plan to Tackle the Crisis
Labour has promised to address the crisis in cancer care by creating 40,000 additional evening and weekend appointments. They also plan to double the number of CT & MRI scanners and utilize spare capacity in the private sector to expedite patient diagnoses.
Shadow Health Secretary's Call for Change
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a cancer survivor himself, emphasized the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment. He criticized the current state of affairs, stating that the NHS is in desperate need of change and only Labour has a comprehensive plan to deliver it.
