UK Cancer Care Under Strain as Staffing Shortages Delay Treatment

Senior doctors have warned that the UK’s cancer care system is facing a potential “disaster” due to NHS staffing shortages and budget cuts, leading to serious delays in diagnosis and treatment. Although cancer survival has improved significantly over the past 50 years, diagnoses have risen sharply, with more than 354,000 new cases reported in 2023. Prostate, breast, lung, and bowel cancer cases have all increased compared to a decade ago.

Despite growing demand, the NHS is failing to meet key waiting-time targets. Only 70% of patients were treated within the 62-day urgent referral target last year, well below the 85% goal. Around 100,000 patients are waiting longer than recommended, and many delays are linked to shortages of doctors, radiologists, and pathology staff. Diagnostic tests, including important genetic and HER2 testing, can take weeks, slowing treatment decisions.

Doctors warn that delays are causing some cancers to progress to later stages, requiring more aggressive treatment and putting further strain on services. While the government has introduced a 10-year cancer plan promising improved access to genomic testing and new technologies, experts say recruitment freezes and underfunding are undermining these goals.

Although cancer death rates continue to fall, clinicians stress that without urgent investment in staffing and resources, patient care and outcomes could worsen.

Thomas, R. (2026, February 4). Inside the NHS cancer crisis as senior doctors warn of treatment ‘disaster’. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/cancer-nhs-streeting-waiting-times-treatments-b2910020.html