John Healey MP has hit out at Government plans to “move the goalposts” on cancer waiting times as the wait for treatment goes on for patients across the borough.
Data sourced by the Labour Party through a Freedom of Information request has revealed patients at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust are facing long waits for cancer care.
Investigations showed that patients across the borough are waiting up to 54 days to see a cancer specialist after their GP has urgently referred them to hospital with some patients forced to wait 127 days to start their cancer treatment.
People are also facing waits of up to 127 days for a diagnosis or to have cancer ruled out.
It comes as the government is set to cut two thirds of existing cancer waiting times standards for patients. The latest figures revealed that the NHS met none of its cancer targets in June 2023.
John Healey MP said: “When it comes to cancer, delays cost lives. There is a crisis in cancer care which has been created by this Conservative government with patients being left to wait dangerously long for a diagnosis or treatment when their cancer could be spreading.
“But now Rishi Sunak has moved the goalposts. Instead of cutting standards the Prime Minister should be focussing on cutting waiting times.
“Labour will get cancer patients diagnosed and treated on time again by training the doctors and nurses the NHS needs and reforming the service to make it fit for the future.”
Waiting times for cancer patients in England have worsened every year since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.
The Labour Party has committed to cut cancer waiting times down to safe levels. The party’s plans to deliver better cancer care include training thousands more doctors and nurses every year, providing NHS staff with up-to-date modern technology, and reforming the health service so it catches cancer earlier.