NHS England cancer diagnoses reach record high with over 1000 cases daily
NHS England recorded more than 373,000 new cancer diagnoses in 2024, averaging over 1,000 cases per day.
Record numbers of new cases
Official statistics show that 1,021 people were diagnosed with cancer every day in England during 2024. This daily average represents an increase from the 972 diagnoses recorded each day in 2023. Prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancers made up half of all new cases identified in the year.
Progress on early detection
The proportion of patients found at stage 1 or 2 rose to 56.7% in 2024 compared with 2023 figures. Prof Peter Johnson stated that these improvements demonstrate the health service is moving in the right direction. He credited NHS staff for bringing tests closer to those who need them.
Missed performance targets
Despite the rise in diagnoses, 78.6% of urgent referrals were resolved within 28 days in August. This percentage falls short of the national target set at 80%. Experts warned that the system continues to fail on timescale goals for diagnosis and treatment.
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