MORE than 300,000 cancer patients will have their treatment delayed over the next five years unless the government drives up NHS performance, according to a new analysis.

Cancer Research UK projects that there will be 17.2 million urgent referrals for suspected cancer in England in that period.

The charity analysed NHS performance in relation to the current NHS waiting times target, according to which 85 per cent of cancer patients should begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, and found that it has not been met since 2015.

In the first six months of this year, 65.9 per cent of cancer patients were treated within the target timeframe in England, meaning that more than 30,000 patients did not start treatment on time.

Between now and 2029, the charity projects that more than 301,000 people will not have been treated on time.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: “Hard-working staff across the NHS are treating more patients in England than ever before, but this data provides a stark warning to the UK government.”

The Department for Health and Social Care said: “As part of our 10-year plan to radically reform our broken NHS, we will fight cancer on all fronts — through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research.”