Late-stage cancer diagnoses in England lag behind Europe, leaving 100,000 affected

England trails Europe in cancer survival rates

Late-stage cancer diagnoses have reached a staggering 100,000 in England, placing the country behind Germany and France in terms of cancer survival rates, according to data from NHS England. The Institute for Public Policy Research estimates that if the UK had matched European early diagnosis rates since 2010, around 180,000 lives could have been saved.

Long waits for potentially lifesaving scans

Worryingly, the NHS England figures also reveal that in October, 29,000 patients had to wait 13 weeks for an MRI or CT scan, compared to just six patients in 2010. Additionally, 1.158 million patients are currently waiting for NHS tests that are used to detect cancer.

Labour promises to improve cancer services

In response to these concerning statistics, the Labour party has pledged to double the number of MRI and CT scanners and increase screening appointments by two million. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the importance of early cancer detection, stating, "Catching cancer early saves lives - I know because that’s what saved mine. After the first term of a Labour government, people should judge us by whether we have improved cancer services and survival rates."