The National Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Audit finds that nearly half of people with aggressive lymphoma miss NHS treatment target. 

Nearly half (44%) of people in England and 38% in Wales are not starting treatment for high-grade lymphoma, a fast-growing type of blood cancer, within the NHS target of 62 days from referral.

The National Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Audit (NNHLA), part of the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre (NATCAN) looked at waiting times for systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies in 2023 in England and 2024 in Wales.

It found that only 56% of people with high-grade lymphoma in England began treatment within the NHS target, well below the NHS ambition for 85% of patients in England to start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral for suspected cancer. Similarly in Wales, only 62% of people with high-grade lymphoma began treatment within 62 days, below the ambition for 75% of patients in Wales to start treatment within 62 days of suspicion of cancer.

British charity Blood Cancer UK says the findings highlight the need to improve outcomes for people with lymphoma and other blood cancers. The charity says reducing delays, ensuring rapid access to specialist care and treatment, and increasing access to clinical trials will all be essential if survival is to improve.

“Being told you have blood cancer is devastating. Once someone has a diagnosis, they deserve to receive the specialist care and treatment they need as quickly as possible. Every unnecessary delay adds to the uncertainty people experience at one of the most frightening times of their lives,” said Rubina Ahmed, director of research, policy and services at Blood Cancer UK. 

The report analysed care received by people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma between January and December 2023 in England and January to December 2024 in Wales. It recommends that Cancer Alliances, Integrated Care Boards, NHS trusts and Welsh health boards investigate delays between referral, specialist assessment and treatment to improve patient care.

“For the first time, this audit allows us to see where patients are spending the longest periods of time as they move through the lymphoma pathway. Understanding these pinch points is an important step towards reducing unwarranted variation and potential delays, improving the patient experience, and ensuring people receive treatment as quickly as possible,” said John Ashcroft, president of the British Society of Haematology (BSH).