• Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is number one in the country for 28-day cancer diagnosis
• National rankings for December 2024 reveal 90.9% received their results within the timeframe
• Standard is NHS England’s approach to speed up cancer diagnosis and improve patient experience

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is leading national rankings for delivering faster cancer diagnosis and improving patient experience.

The latest figures from NHS England’s ‘28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard performance’ in December 2024 reveal 90.9% of patients at Bolton received their results within the national timeframe and 86.7% in January 2025.

Performance results also show in December 2024 Bolton was second in the country for the 62-day referral to treatment standard and has consistently remained in the top ten in 2025, with 89% of patients who have been referred for suspected cancer and received a diagnosis started treatment within 62 days of their referral.

The Trust has seen an increase in the number of people being diagnosed within 28 days and receiving treatment within 62 days compared to the same periods in 2023, working closely with patients to make sure they get to the right test first time.

In colorectal, a new triage process has been introduced which sees a telephone conversation with a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to determine the most appropriate pathway, which has seen an increase in performance.

Dr Francis Andrews, Medical Director at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

The earlier we can diagnose cancer, the sooner we can start potentially life-saving treatment, and it’s fantastic to see the progress we’re making to provide results within twenty-eight days.

“Innovation from our clinical and operational teams means we’re able to support faster diagnosis for nine in every ten people who are referred for a suspected cancer. This is speeding up access to treatment for patients with a positive result or hopefully providing ease of mind for those who have the all clear.

“We know that Bolton faces significant challenges around health inequality, with circulatory, respiratory, cancer and digestive diseases accounting for more than 60% of the life expectancy gap. We’re committed to continuing to innovate and improve our services further so that we can reach our ambition to diagnose all cancers at stage one or two by 2028.

The Faster Diagnosis Standard was introduced by NHS England to ensure patients who are referred for suspected cancer receive a timely diagnosis.

The standard ensures patients will be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of being referred urgently by their GP for suspected cancer.

For patients who are diagnosed with cancer, it means their treatment can begin as soon as possible. For those who are not, they can have their minds put at rest more quickly.