COVID-19 PANDEMIC Urgent referrals for suspected cancer were down 60% in April in the UK; some cancer types were differentially affected with suspected breast cancer referrals down 78%.

These reports present the validated results of the monitoring of waiting times for cancer services in England and the information on the number of people who attended outpatient appointments within two weeks of an urgent referral by their GP for suspected cancer or breast symptoms and, for patients with cancer, on the numbers who started treatment within 31 and 62 days are included for each organisation. The numbers who started some types of subsequent treatments within 31 days are also given for each organisation. Numbers of patients who were not seen or treated within the specified times are also included.

Please note that: (this has included revisions)

Waiting times for suspected and diagnosed cancer patients for 04 2020 (Official Statistics);

Waiting times for suspected and diagnosed cancer patients, Q1 2020-21 (Provider based – National Statistics);

Waiting times for suspected and diagnosed cancer patients, Q1 2020-21 (Commissioner based – Official Statistics).

National and official statistics are produced impartially and free from political influence.