An MP says he has asked the government to provide “special” help to bring down cancer waiting times at his local hospitals.
In the 12 months to November 2025, only 45.5% of cancer patients begun treatment within 62 days of referral at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT), which was the worst rate of any trust in England.
Sir John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP for Maldon, said investment in the trust was needed.
The trust said reducing waiting times was a priority and that it had already seen improvement “in some cancers”.
MSEFT runs the acute hospitals of Broomfield in Chelmsford, Southend and Basildon.
The government aims to improve cancer treatment by hitting a number of key targets, including ensuring 85% of people begin treatment within the 62 days.
“Those targets represent a massive leap from where we are now and it will need investment,” said Sir John.
“In particular, it will need to recruit more specialists. We don’t have anything like the necessary number of radiotherapists or oncologists.
“Therefore I ask the government to ensure that mid and south Essex should receive special attention because our current performance is so bad.”
‘Deeply worried’
By 2035, the government has promised that three-quarters of cancer patients will survive for at least five years.
Sir John told BBC Essex breakfast presenter Sonia Watson that MSEFT’s poor results would mean consequences.
“Sadly, we will have more counts of deaths than we need,” he said.
He said constituents had contacted him “deeply worried” as they waited for their own treatment.
“I have raised with the minister my concern that my constituents are not receiving treatment within the required timescale and called on the government to provide more support for the trust.”
Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford (pictured), as well as Southend and Basildon hospitals, are run by the mid and south Essex trust [Owen Ward/BBC]
Dawn Scrafield, chief executive of the trust, said “we know we need to do more and that our patients deserve better”.
“We have invested in new technologies to help us treat cancer more quickly, and have also increased the provision of diagnostic tests, outpatient clinics and cancer surgery to reduce the time to diagnosis and treatment.
“We can already see our waiting times reducing in some cancers as we deliver extra clinics and improve theatre scheduling.”
[Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust]
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson pointed to its 10-year plan to improve cancer care across England.
“The government will deliver more tests, expand diagnostic capacity, and ensure world-class treatment is available across the country,” they added.
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