NHS in Wales misses national cancer waiting times target for 4th year in a row

Responding to the latest NHS Wales Cancer Waiting Times figures, Kate Seymour, Head of External Affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

“Progress to reduce cancer waiting times in Wales is still too slow. Although we saw improvements in the figures in December, over 9,000 people in Wales waited more than two months to start treatment from first being suspected of having cancer in 2024. That’s nearly enough people to fill Cardiff Arena twice over.

“It’s simply not good enough.

“We urgently need the Welsh government to deliver the Cancer Improvement Plan and be clear on how the new National Cancer Leadership Board will tackle these completely unacceptable delays. People in Wales with cancer need and deserve better.”

Notes to editor

· Macmillan’s recent analysis has revealed the number of people living with cancer in the UK has surged to almost 3.5 million, the highest figure ever reported for the UK and including around 190,000 people in Wales[i].

· If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, we’re here, whatever you need to ask. Call Macmillan’s free support line on 0808 808 00 00, open every day 8am to 8pm or visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk.

• Macmillan’s recent analysis has revealed the number of people living with cancer in the UK has surged to almost 3.5 million, the highest figure ever reported for the UK and including around 190,000 people in Wales^[i].

• If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, we’re here, whatever you need to ask. Call Macmillan’s free support line on 0808 808 00 00, open every day 8am to 8pm or visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk.

• Today’s official NHS data confirms that despite some recent improvements the national cancer waiting times target was missed again in Wales in 2024 and average monthly performance was still worse than when the target was first introduced in 2021. [ii]
  
• This is now the 4th year in a row that the national target has not been met in Wales — it has never been met since being introduced. [iii]
• Macmillan’s analysis of the data shows that in 2024 more than 9,000 people with cancer in Wales waited more than two months to start treatment following an urgent referral, the second highest number on record [iv].
• In December alone, more than 600 people [MK1] with cancer in Wales waited more than 62 days to start treatment from first being suspected of having cancer — this was 3 in 8 (38%) [MK2] [MK3] of all those who started treatment in that month. Performance against this target in December was the highest seen since August 2021.[v]
• Other new figures from Macmillan Cancer Support show that half of people currently having cancer treatment in the UK (50%) are worried about general pressures on the NHS affecting their chances of survival. [vi] [RB4]
• For some cancer types, performance remains particularly concerning in Wales. For example, in December 2024 only 38% of people with gynaecological cancer, 43% of people with urological cancer and 43% of people with lower gastrointestinal cancer started their treatment within 62 days from first being suspected of having cancer. [vii]
• Previous Macmillan analysis shows that survival rates for at least two common types of cancer in Wales (colon and rectal cancer in women) are only just now reaching the levels that Sweden and Norway were already achieving in the early 2000s. [viii]