Half of patients in England struggle to receive timely bowel cancer diagnosis and treatment

Figures published by NHS England today (Thursday 14 July 2022) show that half of people (51%) urgently referred for bowel cancer investigation were waiting longer than 28 days for diagnosis, or to have a cancer ruled out. While most of those waiting won't have bowel cancer, early diagnosis saves lives so it's important that people are seen as quickly as possible.

Of the 94,237 people on the waiting list for investigations in May, over a third (36%) were waiting more than six weeks for an endoscopy (colonoscopy or flexi-sigmoidoscopy which can diagnose bowel cancer), with a fifth of people (20%) waiting more than 13 weeks.

The figures also show that almost 8,000 additional people were referred for urgent bowel cancer tests in May compared with May 2021 – a sign that more people are visiting their GP with symptoms of bowel cancer.

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK said: "It's heartening to see that significantly more people are being referred for bowel cancer tests after visiting their GP with potential symptoms. However, it's disappointing that half of those urgently referred for bowel cancer investigation wait longer than 28 days for diagnosis, or to have a cancer ruled out.

"Too many people are waiting too long for crucial bowel cancer tests because of long-standing workforce shortages in endoscopy services. If the Government is to meet the ambitions in the Long Term Plan to diagnose 75% of cancers early by 2028, then it must address these shortages as part of the new 10-Year Cancer Plan. It's tragic that some patients will face poorer outcomes as a result of having to wait too long for tests before starting treatment.

"Every 30 minutes someone dies from bowel cancer, it's the UK's second biggest cancer killer but it shouldn't be because it’s treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage however this drops significantly as the disease develops."

Here at Bowel Cancer UK we're campaigning and working hard to improve capacity within diagnostic services:

• We submitted a comprehensive response into the Department of Health and Social Care's call for evidence to inform a new 10-Year Cancer Plan and have been meeting with them throughout the development of the new plan to ensure bowel cancer remains a priority
• We developed and signed a cross-cancer charity consensus statement on the 10 key tests the new Cancer Plan must meet to improve cancer survival and outcomes in England
• We're also working across the health sector to ensure that cancer remains top of the political agenda with the potential candidates for Prime Minister