Historic national trends
Key points
Performance on cancer waiting times standards generally worsened over the 12 years from October 2011 to September 2023
This period started with all national objectives being met, but it ended with none of the objectives being met
The objective of 75% for the Faster Diagnosis Standard was met in only one month, after its introduction in 2021
Numbers of referrals for diagnosis of suspected cancer and for cancer treatment generally increased throughout the period
Two-week wait standard
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-tww-1.png)
Breast symptoms (where cancer was not suspected)
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-tww-breast-1.png)
28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-28-day-1.png)
31-day decision-to-treat to treatment standard
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-31-day-1.png)
Surgery
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-31-day-surgery-1.png)
Systemic anti-cancer therapy
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-31-day-sact-1.png)
Radiotherapy
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-31-day-rt-1.png)
62-day referral to treatment standard
Urgent GP referral
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-62-day-gp-1.png)
Urgent screening referral
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-62-day-screen-1.png)
Consultant upgrade
![](policy-historic-trends_files/figure-html/fig-62-day-upgrade-1.png)