Mid and South Essex Cancer Care Failing Patients

A recent Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman (PHSO) investigation and report, published in September 2025, has found multiple failings by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in its provision of cancer care and treatment.

The Trust has faced long-standing difficulties in meeting national cancer waiting times and treatment guidelines. Worryingly, the Ombudsman’s report suggests that these issues remain ongoing.

National cancer waiting time standards

In January 2023, NHS England set the following cancer waiting time targets:

• Two weeks from receipt of an urgent referral to first outpatient appointment in 93% of cases
• 28 days from referral to informing the patient of their diagnosis in 75% of cases
• 31 days from decision to treat to first definitive treatment in 96% of cases
• 62 days from urgent referral to first treatment in 85% of cases

Mid and South Essex performance

The Trust’s Integrated Performance Report for March 2023 showed it failed to meet all of the NHS England cancer wait time standards. For the 62-day referral-to-treatment target, it achieved this in only 47.6% of patients, compared to the national target of 85%.

Two years on, the situation has worsened. The Ombudsman’s September 2025 report found that, as of March 2025, the Trust achieved the 62-day standard in just 46.8% of patients, representing a further decline.

The Guardian also reported that Mid and South Essex was the worst trust in England for starting treatment within 62 days (just 42.2% of patients) and the second worst for achieving a diagnosis within 28 days (59.2%). You can view the NHS England league table here: Acute Trust League Table.

Wider failings

The Ombudsman also identified that the Trust failed to comply with multiple NICE guidelines covering:

• Discharge planning
• Palliative care
• Communication with patients and families

This amounted to a clear service failure.

Recommendations from the Ombudsman

The Ombudsman made several recommendations, including that the Trust must:

1. Carry out a systemic review of its performance against national cancer waiting time targets and produce a robust improvement plan, particularly around the 62-day referral-to-treatment standard.
2. Ensure all patient discharge needs are properly assessed and planned in line with national guidelines.
3. Develop a clear process to ensure staff identify palliative care needs early and implement care in line with national standards.
4. Improve communication from nursing staff for patients approaching the end of life.

The Trust has been ordered to complete this plan within eight weeks of the report’s publication.

Comment from Fletchers Solicitors

Sarah Low, a specialist medical negligence solicitor at Fletchers, said:

“The fact that there remains a postcode lottery when it comes to cancer care is simply unacceptable. While it is encouraging to see that some trusts are making strides in improving their services – and that should be applauded. It is too late for those who have already suffered substandard care and treatment at Mid and South Essex. Patients and their families deserved better. We are supporting people affected and can see the tragic human impact these failings have on people”

Legal support for affected patients

While this report may act as a catalyst for improvements, it will provide little comfort to those already affected by the Trust’s failings.

If you or a family member have been affected by the issues identified at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, you can join the families already being supported by Fletchers Solicitors. Contact us today for a free case assessment.

Fletchers Solicitors are currently investigating other negligence claims against Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for ophthalmology delays. Learn more about our group action and how me may be able to help.