Healthcare delays can have serious consequences for patients across the UK, with various conditions experiencing significant diagnostic and treatment postponements. While the NHS continues to work towards improving patient care, understanding where these delays occur most frequently can help individuals recognise when they may need to seek additional medical opinions or explore alternative options.
- Cancer: delays in diagnostic referral and imaging
Although recent progress has been made with the Faster Diagnosis Standard, cancer waiting times remain a persistent challenge. In April 2025, only 69.9% of people in England received their diagnosis and started their first treatment within 2 months (62 days) of an urgent referral, falling well short of the 85% target. This is a concerning trend, as Cancer Research UK data shows that the target has not been met since December 2015. The Faster Diagnosis Standard has shown improvement, with 77% of patients receiving a diagnosis within 28 days of urgent referral in April 2025, surpassing the 75% target. However, the critical 62-day treatment target continues to be missed, with only around 70% of patients meeting this standard.
- Blood tests and pathology: failures in public–private lab partnerships
Laboratory services have faced challenges, particularly with outsourced arrangements that have led to substantial backlogs. The Synnovis cyber attack in 2024 highlighted vulnerabilities in public-private lab partnerships, causing delays to thousands of blood test results and procedures across London hospitals. These delays have been described as creating a “national scandal” by healthcare professionals, with patients experiencing postponed surgeries and delayed diagnoses. When delayed or incorrect results from private-contracted laboratory services cause serious harm, affected patients may need to explore options for pursuing medical negligence claims against the providers involved.
- Cardiac conditions in women: under-diagnosis and misattribution
Women face particular challenges in cardiac care, with research showing significant gender disparities in diagnosis and treatment. Studies indicate that women are frequently misdiagnosed with cardiac conditions, sometimes having their symptoms dismissed as anxiety or stress-related issues. The gender gap in cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment persists, with women being 50% more likely than men to receive the wrong initial diagnosis after a heart attack. This misattribution puts women at serious risk, as they might not receive life-saving treatments promptly. Women experiencing persistent or escalating heart symptoms should strongly consider seeking second opinions from specialists familiar with how cardiac conditions present differently in women.
- Endometriosis: almost a decade-long diagnostic wait
Endometriosis is one of the most concerning diagnostic delays in women’s healthcare. According to Endometriosis UK, the average time to receive an endometriosis diagnosis has increased to 8 years and 10 months in 2024, representing a 10-month increase since 2020. This condition affects approximately 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth, yet the lengthy diagnostic journey means many suffer in silence for years. The extended wait times reflect what many describe as systemic disregard for female pain within healthcare systems. During this diagnostic delay, the condition may progress, potentially leading to worsening symptoms and permanent organ damage.
- Diagnostic imaging: long waits due to equipment and staff shortages
NHS radiologists have warned that routine imaging delays are putting patients at risk, with chronic staff shortages affecting all diagnostic units. The ONS data on cancer waiting times reveals that in Quarter 2 2024, 33.4% of patients waited longer than the 62-day standard for cancer treatment, representing an increase from 11.0% in Quarter 1 2012. These delays in CT and MRI scans are concerning for cancer patients, where early detection impacts treatment outcomes and survival rates. The shortage of skilled radiologists and imaging equipment continues to create bottlenecks in the diagnostic pathway.
Understanding these common areas of diagnostic delay can help patients recognise when they might need to advocate more strongly for their care or seek additional medical opinions. While the NHS continues working to address these challenges, patients should remain vigilant about persistent symptoms and consider consulting specialists when standard care pathways seem insufficient.