Cancer treatment delays reported in Ireland and Australia

New data reveals significant delays in cancer treatment access in Ireland and Australia. In Ireland, HSE figures show that approximately one-in-five cancer patients failed to begin radiotherapy within recommended timeframes during the first half of 2026. The proportion of patients missing the target rose from 19.3 per cent in the first quarter to 21.1 per cent in the second quarter, affecting a total of 732 people. The St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network reported particularly high delay rates, with only about 65 per cent of patients meeting targets.

Irish surgical targets for lung and prostate cancer also saw challenges. Only 56.4 per cent of lung cancer patients were offered surgery within the 25-working-day target in the first quarter. For prostate cancer, national compliance for surgery within 30 working days was reported at 38.4 per cent in 2025, with significant regional variations.

In Australia, the Icon Cancer Centre has begun publishing monthly data to provide transparency regarding radiotherapy start times. The provider reports a national median of five days from referral to the first consultation with a radiation oncologist, and an average of five business days from being ready for care to the start of treatment.