896 patients in Hampshire Hospitals Trust waited agonisingly long wait to start cancer treatment in 2025

Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis has called for a cancer care guarantee - which ensures 100% of patients start treatment within 2 months to give patients and their loved ones peace of mind. This comes as shocking new data analysed by the Liberal Democrats reveals a deadly long wait for cancer treatment, with record numbers of cancer patients waiting at least 62 days to receive the care they desperately need. 

The data, which covers the whole of 2025, also reveals that 140 trusts missed this deadline, while in just only 27 trusts it was hit, of which 12 only recorded 1 patient being treated.  

Eleven trusts reported that at least 50% of cancer patients waited 62 days. Every four-week delay reduces patient survival by an average of 10%, leaving patients and their loved ones in limbo with agonising waits. 

The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a guarantee that 100% of patients start treatment for cancer within 62 days from urgent referral, with this written into law, to ensure every cancer patient gets the timely treatment they deserve. 

The party would deliver this through 200 extra staffed radiotherapy machines, new radiotherapy centres to end “radiotherapy deserts”, and over 3,000 more cancer nurses to ensure everyone has a specialist supporting them.   

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis said:  

“We all know someone who has been through the shattering experience of a cancer diagnosis, and it is truly heartbreaking to hear that patients in Eastleigh are waiting for months on end to get the care they need. 

“Under the Conservatives, Cancer services across Eastleigh were left on their knees. But Labour have not moved fast enough and patients and their loved ones are still being left in limbo waiting too long for much needed treatment. 

“The Liberal Democrats are the party of the NHS and we will not accept the unacceptable for patients. Under our plans, we would guarantee for 100% of cancer patients to be treated within 62 days across Eastleigh.”