Diagnostic and Cancer Waiting Times data for October 2023

State of the wait: October 2023

Responding to October’s Diagnostic Waiting Times data for England, Dr Katharine Halliday, President of The Royal College of Radiologists, said:

“While this month’s data shows slight improvement in waits to receive a diagnostic test, we are still failing to reach any national target, including those for cancer waiting times.  It's very concerning that only 58% of those on the 'urgent suspected cancer' referral route were treated within 62 days.

This is the first time NHS England has reported on the new streamlined cancer targets, and while clearer targets are welcome, the marginal improvement we see will do little to reassure patients who bear the burden of the capacity crisis in cancer.

We know a driving factor in us not reaching targets is continued failure to address the workforce challenges we have in the NHS. We can continue to tweak the targets all we want but whatever the metric, without putting the resources and workforce we need in place we will continue to fall short.”