Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cancer patients received radiotherapy treatment within the 62-day referral to treatment target; and what steps he is taking to reduce wait times for cancer radiotherapy.

The number of patients receiving radiotherapy treatment for cancer is reported in the 31 days waiting time standard from decision to treat to a subsequent treatment for cancer.

From latest data available, the total number of cancer patients who received radiotherapy treatment in December 2022 was 8,054, of which 7,306 patients received treatment within the 31 days standard.

The Department is taking steps to support the National Health Service deliver this standard and reduce waiting times for treatment, including for cancer radiotherapy treatments. To support elective recovery, the Government plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/2023 to 2024/2025, of which £2.3 billion will be used to expand diagnostics and £1.5 billion for treatment, with a focus on cancer treatment.