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NHS England region

Cancer waiting times in South East

18 NHS trusts in South East, with how quickly people were told whether they have cancer and how quickly they started treatment in August 2026. In England, 72% started treatment within 62 days of an urgent 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 trusts in South East

Highest share first, by the 62-day standard. Neighbouring trusts are often only a person or two apart. 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.

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
80%
785 of 979 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
1 percentage point higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
806 of 836 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
89%
120½ of 135½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
17 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
88%
2,684 of 3,058 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
9 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
428 of 444 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
85%
259½ of 306½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
13 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
83%
1,432 of 1,726 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
4 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
98%
673 of 689 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
6 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
84%
191½ of 228½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
12 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
86%
1,975 of 2,298 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
7 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
91%
156 of 171 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
82%
130½ of 158½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
10 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
83%
1,966 of 2,367 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
4 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
91%
471 of 515 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
80%
171 of 215 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
8 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
72%
1,658 of 2,294 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
7 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
86%
893 of 1,035 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
6 percentage points lower than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
78%
191 of 244 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
6 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
59%
426 of 727 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
20 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
89%
197 of 221 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
3 percentage points lower than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
75%
67½ of 90 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
3 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
77%
1,746 of 2,268 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
2 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
312 of 324 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
74%
149 of 200½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
2 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
77%
2,566 of 3,342 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
2 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
823 of 854 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
74%
295 of 399½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
2 percentage points higher than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
81%
443 of 550 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
2 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
91 of 95 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
71%
45½ of 64½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
1 percentage point lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
80%
1,256 of 1,568 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
1 percentage point higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
99%
207 of 209 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
7 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
71%
103 of 145½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
1 percentage point lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
76%
1,705 of 2,255 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
3 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
98%
168 of 172 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
6 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
70%
111½ of 160 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
2 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
85%
2,512 of 2,972 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
6 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
98%
273 of 280 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
6 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
68%
169 of 247 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
4 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
64%
2,396 of 3,746 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
15 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
511 of 534 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
67%
222 of 330½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
5 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
82%
2,575 of 3,135 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
3 percentage points higher than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
74%
768 of 1,034 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
18 percentage points lower than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
66%
260½ of 393½ people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
6 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Told within 28 days
73%
4,252 of 5,848 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
6 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
76%
691 of 914 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
16 percentage points lower than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
66%
370½ of 559 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
6 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
78%
724 of 927 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
1 percentage point lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
96%
163 of 170 people, from agreeing the treatment to starting it
4 percentage points higher than England (92%). NHS England’s standard: 96%.
Treated within 62 days of referral
65%
67 of 103 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
7 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Told within 28 days
73%
1,687 of 2,304 people, whether they have cancer, after an urgent referral
6 percentage points lower than England (79%). NHS England’s standard: 75%.
Treated within 31 days of the decision
91%
296 of 325 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
62%
122 of 197 people, from an urgent referral to the first treatment
10 percentage points lower than England (72%). NHS England’s standard: 85%.

Every month and every type of cancer

Where the figures come from

The waits that ended in August 2026, as each trust reported them to NHS England.

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.

Data updated

The month each source’s data runs to, and when its publisher released it.

When each source is next expected

Sources

  • Contains public sector information from NHS England licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0: Cancer Waiting Times, monthly statistics.

All sources and licences