How many people start cancer treatment within 62 days?
In August 2026, 72% of people in England with cancer started their first treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.
Applies to: August 2026
In a chart and a table
| Standard | Share inside it |
|---|---|
| Told within 28 days214,991 of 273,664 people | 79% |
| Treated within 31 days of the decision50,701 of 55,049 people | 92% |
| Treated within 62 days of referral20,066 of 27,909 people | 72% |
How did we work it out?
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.
Care shared by two providers counts half at each, so a count can hold halves. Figures from April 2026 on are provisional, and NHS England revises them when the year is final.
Where does the figure come from?
- Cancer Waiting Times: (published 8 October 2026)
- Contains public sector information from NHS England licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0: Cancer Waiting Times, monthly statistics.
More questions
- How many people on the hospital waiting list have waited 18 weeks or less?
- How many people are seen within 4 hours in A&E?