In response to new reports from Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of Radiologists, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers, said:

"Cancer is a top priority. Trust leaders are keenly aware of the risks to patients who have to wait for care.

"In March, for the second month in a row, trusts met the cancer 28-day faster diagnosis standard – 77% of people were told if they had cancer or if cancer was ruled out within four weeks of an urgent referral.

"Trusts are doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible but need more staff and resources for stretched services. The NHS is seeing more people for suspected cancer than before the pandemic but still too many are waiting longer than they should."