A record 106,810 cancer patients in England waited more than 62 days to start urgent treatment last year, according to new healthcare data.

The NHS has established a target requiring hospitals to begin treatment for 85 percent of cancer patients within 62 days of an urgent referral. This timeframe is considered crucial for patient outcomes and is used as a key performance indicator for cancer services.

Data shows that 83 percent of hospital trusts failed to meet this treatment timeline standard. The widespread failure to achieve the target indicates systemic challenges across England's cancer care system.

The 62-day standard begins counting from when a patient receives an urgent suspected cancer referral from their general practitioner. Meeting this target is considered essential for ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment, which can significantly impact patient prognosis.

The figures represent the highest number of patients experiencing extended delays in starting cancer treatment since records began tracking this metric. Hospital trusts are required to report their performance against this standard as part of national healthcare monitoring.