New analysis of NHS performance figures reveals that cancer care in England has deteriorated since the government launched its 10-year recovery plan in February 2026.
Despite national commitments to speed up diagnosis and treatment, data from June 2026 shows that only 69.9% of patients in England received a diagnosis and began their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral. This falls significantly short of the NHS national target of 85%, a benchmark that has not been met across the country since December 2015.
The findings come seven months after the publication of the National Cancer Plan for England, which aims to meet all major waiting time targets by 2029. However, the latest figures suggest that the “critical condition” of the health service—as identified in the May 2026 update of the Darzi investigation—remains a significant hurdle to patient care.
Performance at local hospitals
Patients in Bognor Regis and the surrounding area are primarily served by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which operates St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester and Worthing Hospital.
The trust’s performance reflects the wider national challenge. In May 2026, University Hospitals Sussex recorded a “faster diagnosis” rate of 75.8%, meaning approximately one in four patients waited longer than 28 days to be told whether or not they had cancer. This performance was below the NHS target of 80%.
The Trust was rated “Requires Improvement” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May 2026. Detailed figures regarding the trust’s progress against the 28-day standard are available via the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust website.
National targets and the 2029 plan
NHS England currently operates standards for cancer waiting times:
- 28-Day Faster Diagnosis Standard: 80% of patients should be told if they have cancer within four weeks of an urgent referral.
- 62-Day Referral-to-Treatment Standard: 85% of patients should begin their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral.
While the February 2026 National Cancer Plan set out a three-year roadmap to restore these standards, the June 2026 data indicates that the gap between current performance and national targets remains wide.
The Department of Health and Social Care has previously stated that the 10-year plan is designed to reform the patient pathway through increased diagnostic capacity and new technology. However, for many patients currently in the system, the reality remains a period of significant delay between the initial suspicion of cancer and the start of life-saving treatment.
