RCR statement on NHS England’s May 2024 diagnostic imaging and cancer waiting times

In response to NHS England's May 2024 diagnostic imaging and cancer waiting times data release, Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists said:

"The latest data reveals that in May, only 66% of patients were treated for cancer within 62 days of an urgent referral, falling far short of the 85% target. In May, 9347 patients started their cancer treatment late - after 62 days. This is the second highest monthly number on record and demonstrates that demand is only increasing.

"The waiting period starts with the diagnostic process and in May 17% of patients waited more than six weeks for a CT or MRI scan, against a target of 1%. Lengthy delays such as this causes untold anxiety. To clear the diagnostic imaging backlog within a month, we would need to hire 385 additional radiologists overnight, equivalent to 9% of the current workforce."

RCR analysis

• We welcome yesterday's commitment from the Health Secretary to better understand the drivers behind continued missed targets.
• The announced ten-year plan for the NHS is an opportunity for meaningful change. To be successful, it must address the stasis in NHS targets, rooted in demand outstripping workforce capacity, a lack of equipment and effective IT systems, and a system which fails to seize external innovations in imaging and cancer care.
• We hope to work closely with those leading the development of the ten-year plan for the NHS to ensure radiologists and oncologists are better supported to provide critical patient care.

Diagnostic waiting times

Target	May 2024
CT and MRI scans   Target: 1% wait less than 6 weeks	17% (target missed)   82,140 patients were waiting 6+ weeks for a CT or MRI scan

 

• To clear the backlog within one month, we would need an additional 385 radiologists to be hired overnight, equivalent to 9% of the current workforce.

Cancer waiting times

Target	May 2024
62 days to treatment following urgent referral   Target: 85%	66% (target missed)   9,347 patients started their cancer treatment after 62 days of their urgent referral. This is the second highest number of patients on record.
31 days to treatment from decision to treat   Target: 96%	92% (target missed)   4,566 patients started treatment for their cancer more than 31 days from when the decision to treat had been confirmed.
28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard   Target: 75%	76% (target met)   64,702 patients were told their cancer diagnosis or had cancer ruled out after 28 days of a referral.