Overview

• In 2024/25, South Tees achieved just 57.8% of first treatments within 62 days after urgent GP referrals, well below the 85% target and down from an 85.4% peak in 2017/18.
• Compliance for the 62-day target after NHS screening referrals dropped to 29.4%, with 154 patients waiting more than 62 days as of March.
• Since February, NHS England’s performance oversight regime has focused on accelerating improvements in prostate diagnostics, histopathology turnaround and radiotherapy capacity.
• Local initiatives have already shortened prostate biopsy waits by two weeks and aim to address a 25% surge in lung cancer treatments over three years.
• Across England, around 30.1% of patients now wait more than two months for treatment despite over £2.3 billion invested in community diagnostic centres.