The claim "More cancer patients are now being diagnosed on time" is partially supported by NHS England cancer waiting times data as of the March 2026 statistical release (published May 14, 2026). **Key findings:** 1. **28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)** — the measure most directly relevant to "diagnosed on time" (target 75%, raised to 80% from March 2026): The 12-month average (April 2025–March 2026) was 76.3%, a slight *decrease* from 76.4% the previous year. However, the absolute volume of patients seen within FDS increased (from ~270,643/month to ~281,470/month), meaning more patients in absolute numbers were seen within standard despite the percentage dipping slightly. 2. **31-day Combined Standard** (decision to treat to first treatment, target 96%): 12-month average was 91.8%, an *increase* from 91.1% the previous year. 3. **62-day Combined Standard** (urgent referral to first treatment, target 85%): 12-month average was 69.4%, an *increase* from 68.5% the previous year. This target has not been met since December 2015. **Additional context:** - The Nuffield Trust assessed that "performance fluctuates from month to month, but the overall trend is a slow improvement since 2023." - All three targets remain unmet, with significant shortfalls — the 62-day standard is 15.6 percentage points below target. - Cancer Research UK reported that in April 2026 (data released after the speech), FDS was at 75.9%, the 62-day at 70%, and the 31-day at 91.5% — all missing their targets. **Assessment:** Two of the three cancer waiting time standards show slight year-over-year improvement in their 12-month averages, and the Nuffield Trust confirms a "slow improvement since 2023." The absolute number of patients seen within the FDS standard has also increased. However, the most directly relevant measure to "diagnosed on time" — the FDS — showed a slight decrease in the most recent annual comparison (76.3% vs. 76.4%). Moreover, all three targets remain significantly unmet, and the improvements are extremely marginal (fractions of a percentage point). The claim risks giving a more positive impression than the data supports. Sources: NHS England, Cancer Waiting Times, March 2026 Statistical Release (https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Cancer-Waiting-Times-Statistical-Release-March-2026-Provider-based-Provisional.pdf); NHS England, Cancer Waiting Times, January 2026 Statistical Release (https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/Cancer-Waiting-Times-Statistical-Release-January-2026-Provider-based-Provisional.pdf); NHS England, Cancer Waiting Times, December 2025 Statistical Release (https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/Cancer-Waiting-Times-Statistical-Release-December-2025-Provider-based-Provisional.pdf); Nuffield Trust, Cancer waiting times (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/cancer-waiting-time-targets); Cancer Research UK, Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis (https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2026/06/12/cancer-waiting-times-latest-updates-and-analysis/); Nuffield Trust, Response to cancer target announcements (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/nuffield-trust-response-to-cancer-target-announcements)