Cancer recovery target could be pushed back a year as record numbers seek care

The backlog of patients waiting longer than 62 days from an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer is currently 23,500.

The health service has seen a record number of referrals for cancer since March 2021 (Alamy/PA)

Getting cancer care back on track could take a year longer than previously thought after a huge spike in the number of people coming forward for care, NHS England officials have said.

It was hoped that the backlog of patients waiting longer than 62 days from an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer would be returned to pre-pandemic levels by March 2023.

But NHS officials told MPs that a new target of March 2024 is being discussed with ministers.