Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Cancer waiting times in August 2026

Told within 28 days

17%

1 of 6 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral

62 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.

Treated within 31 days of the decision

91%

29 of 32 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it

1 percentage point lower than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.

Treated within 62 days of referral

79%

15 of 19 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment

7 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Fewer than 20 people on “told within 28 days” and “treated within 62 days of referral” this month: a person or two moves the share a lot.

These are NHS England’s figures for the month, not a grade or a verdict on the care. A specialist centre takes the most complex cases from a wide area, and some people wait longer for good medical reasons or by their own choice.

Source: NHS England, Cancer Waiting Times, April 2025 to August 2026, published 8 October 2026. Open Government Licence. England’s figures count every provider, the 48 not listed here included.

What the 28, 31 and 62 days mean

Told within 28 days. People referred urgently because cancer was suspected (by a GP, a dentist, a screening programme, or for breast symptoms) who were told within 28 days, four weeks, that they have cancer or that it has been ruled out. NHS England’s standard is 75 in every 100 people, which it said in 2023 would rise to 80.

Treated within 31 days of the decision. People with cancer who started a treatment within 31 days, about a month, of the day they and their doctor agreed on it. It counts first treatments and later ones, such as surgery after chemotherapy. NHS England’s standard is 96 in every 100 people.

Treated within 62 days of referral. People with cancer who started their first treatment within 62 days, about two months, of an urgent referral. The clock starts when the hospital gets the referral (from a GP, screening, or a hospital doctor who suspects cancer) and stops when treatment such as surgery, drugs or radiotherapy begins. NHS England’s standard is 85 in every 100 people.

Month by month

The share inside each standard, month by month, from September 2025 to August 2026.

Figures from April 2026 on are provisional: NHS England revises them when the year is final.

Told within 28 days, by suspected cancer

August 2026, in NHS England’s order, not a ranking. England’s share is under each name.

Treated in time, by type of cancer

August 2026, in NHS England’s order, not a ranking. England’s shares (31 days, then 62 days) are under each name.

A count can end in a half: when two hospitals share a person’s care, NHS England counts half of that person at each.

More about the trust

The trust’s other waiting times, from NHS England.

• Waiting times for planned treatment at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust