A disastrous collapse in the number of cancer patients being seen within two weeks will cost lives says Chesterfield’s Labour MP Toby Perkins.

The MP for Chesterfield has joined the cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now’s, campaign on waiting times for treatment.

New data from the charity show that the number of people waiting more than two weeks for treatment has fallen to 15.1% at the start of 2022 (Jan-Mar). This is lower than the England performance of 54.0% and lower than the operational standard of 93%.

The government replace the previous target that 93% of cancer patients should have a first appointment within two-weeks with a new Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), where 75% of patients should receive a diagnosis of cancer or have it ruled out within 28 days of referral, and at least 50% should receive this within 14 days.

However even this standard which was lower than that recommended by independent experts is being missed and so Toby Perkins attended an event in parliament with Breast Cancer Now to highlight this wait and the need for the government to do more to tackle the backlog in cancer care.

Toby said “As a Breast Cancer Now ambassador, I always will highlight the need to take action on treating cancer early. The impact that cancer can have on someone, and their families life is huge and it is important that government do more to tackle waiting lists and meet targets like that of two week treatment.

My mother died of cancer, I know, as do my too many of my constituents that with cancer, delays cost lives and so I will keep pushing to improve standards locally and for government to raise their game nationally. I am of course delighted to back the #NoTimeToWait campaign.