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04
Feb
Harrogate patients wait more than 62 days for cancer treatment
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Tom Gordon, has criticised the government’s cancer strategy after Harrogate patients waited more than two months for treatment.
According to latest NHS figures, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust saw 293 patients wait more than 62 days for cancer treatment between January and November last year.
The figure is up from 271 on the same period in 2024.
Hospitals are expected to ensure that 85% of patients should wait no longer than 62 days for treatment, according to NHS targets.
Mr Gordon said he had met with Ashley Dalton, health minister, in September 2025 to push for a National Cancer Plan that improves cancer outcomes in Yorkshire.
He said he highlighted the key findings of the Yorkshire Cancer Research White Rose Cancer Report and made clear that closing this gap must be a national priority if the government is serious about tackling deep-rooted health inequalities.
Mr Gordon said:
Cancer care is broken in our country. Too many people with cancer in my constituency are waiting months for the treatment that they desperately need, which is completely unacceptable.
Cancer services were left on their knees by the previous Conservative government, and Labour have done little so far to end this tragedy. Action must be taken now, and the government must finally offer hope.
The government's new National Cancer Plan, published yesterday (February 4), pledges the NHS will meet all cancer waiting time standards by 2029.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said:
Thanks to the revolution in medical science and technology, we have the opportunity to transform the life chances of cancer patients. Our cancer plan will invest in and modernise the NHS, so that opportunity can be seized and our ambitions realised.
This plan will slash waits, invest in cutting-edge technology, and give every patient the best possible chance of beating cancer.
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