Overview

• Four in ten people with cancer reported access problems tied to where they live, according to a YouGov survey of 2,002 patients for Macmillan.
• More than a third said they travelled an hour or longer for tests or treatment, highlighting significant burdens on patients seeking timely care.
• Three percent said they declined tests or treatment because of travel time, which Macmillan estimates could equate to around 100,000 patients at risk.
• Macmillan’s review of NHS data suggests roughly 60,000 more people would have started treatment on time last year if local performance matched the best areas across the UK.
• NHS England’s June figures show 76.8% met the 28‑day diagnosis measure and 67.1% met the 62‑day treatment standard, short of the 75% goal set for March 2026.