"With or without NHS delays, you’re always waiting for news which causes significant distress."
- Nick Bray, Chief Underwriter at Zurich UK
Of those surveyed (500), as part of UCL Cancer Institute’s latest research analysed by Prof Allan Hackshaw, one in three (36%) are currently waiting over two months before starting cancer treatment following an urgent GP referral; one in six cancer patients are waiting more than 90 days before receiving lifesaving treatment. Zurich UK believes this is largely due to equipment and healthcare staff shortages and rising pressure on NHS resources.
Allan Hackshaw, Director of Cancer Research UK & UCL Cancer Trial Centre, said: “Cancer care in the UK falls consistently short of where it could be, which is heartbreaking when we think about how far medical science has come in the past several years. Equipment and healthcare staff shortages make it very difficult for many NHS trusts to hit diagnosis and treatment targets, which varies greatly across the UK.
“97% of Clinical Directors report that workforce shortages are leading to backlogs & delays at their NHS trust, with the UK having fewer pathologists than anywhere else in Europe. Thankfully, we stand on the cusp of a revolution in cancer treatment, with precision oncology & access to effective targeted treatments, as well as modern immunotherapies, offering promise for millions around the world.
“These improvements will save lives, but access is key. It’s encouraging to see companies like Zurich UK helping to bring these improvements to more people with advanced cancer,” he added.
None of the forty-two NHS integrated care boards hit the NHS target of providing treatment for 85% of patients within 62 days. The majority (67%) of cancer survivors said waiting for treatment was the worst part of their journey, with 30% feeling that time moved very slowly.
Waiting times for both cancer diagnoses and treatment varied significantly between geographical regions in the UK. In Birmingham & Solihull region (West Midlands), 59% of patients waited longer than two months for treatment from January to August 2024 – double the percentage of patients waiting in the Surrey Heartlands region (21%). Unsurprisingly, Zurich UK found patients in the West Midlands are most likely to feel delays in cancer treatment (84%) compared to the average (67%).
Zurich UK believes it’s time for intervention to improve patient outcomes. For example, four-week delays on anti-cancer drugs could increase the risk of death by 13% for bowel cancer, followed by breast cancer (9%), and bladder cancer (4%). Meanwhile, the risk of death for patients waiting for radiotherapy rises by 3 to 9% for head & neck cancer, or 23% for cervical cancer.
Every month without surgery can increase the risk of death by 6% for bladder, colon, head, neck, or lunch cancer, and 8% for breast cancer. Worryingly, 28% of those surveyed who’d planned to have surgery, had the operation cancelled while they waited because the cancer had progressed, with most (71%) saying they were deemed unfit for surgery.
“We’re lucky to have an NHS service in the UK, but the reality is, cancer is a waiting game, regardless of the challenges faced by the NHS. While many people are receiving a quick diagnosis & treatment, there are many factors influencing this – one of which is regionality,” explained Nicky Bray, Chief Underwriter at Zurich UK.
She said: “A cancer journey is now a linear path and there is no beginning, middle, and end. You wait for a diagnosis, then for treatment, then you wait to see if it’s worked. Then for some, it’s about waiting for five years of remission as this changing disease could, of course, come back.
“With or without NHS delays, you’re always waiting for news which causes significant distress. Zurich helps people to protect the things they love, which is why we’re committed to helping customers access rapid diagnosis,” Nicky concluded.
