The 62-day target has not been met since:
2015 in England
2012 in Scotland
2010 in Wales
2009 in Northern Ireland
And in England alone, more than 300,000 cancer patients will miss the target over the next five years unless performance improves, according to Cancer Research UK modelling, which predicts an above 20% rise in referrals.
Its latest analysis comes just a week after the health service’s performance was heavily criticised in a government report by NHS surgeon and independent peer Lord Darzi.
A Department of Health and Social Care official said: “Lord Darzi’s investigation found that cancer is more likely to be a death sentence for NHS patients than patients in other countries.
“This is completely unacceptable.”
The department would set out a 10-year plan to radically reform “our broken NHS”, in the spring, the official said.
“We will fight cancer on all fronts – through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research – to give people the care they need,” the official added.
NHS England said more work was needed to address “some unacceptably long waits” but the health service was now carrying out more checks than ever and there were signs of progress, with the overall numbers starting treatment within 62 days showing some improvement.