London’s urgent suspected cancer referrals

The two-week urgent referral pathway for suspected cancer is a key part of NHS England’s national cancer strategy for achieving earlier diagnosis and improved survival rates in England:

“In order to improve early diagnosis, we need to encourage people to recognise the symptoms and signs of cancer, and seek advice from their doctor as soon as possible. We also need doctors to recognise these symptoms and (if appropriate) refer people urgently for specialist care”.

Interactive data dashboard

Data highlights

London’s urgent suspected cancer referral activity data shows that more people are being referred to and diagnosed via this referral route than ever before. It also shows that suspected brain cancer referrals had the biggest increase in volume in 2019 followed by referrals for suspected breast cancer.

More data resources

To see key referral and diagnosis data at CCG and GP practice level, use the National Cancer Research and Analysis Service (NCRAS) profiles plus tool.