Hundreds of thousands of people in England are not getting tests for killer diseases because of widespread delays that doctors fear will harm patients.

A total of 386,849 people in September had been waiting more than six weeks for a diagnostic test for cancer, heart problems and other serious conditions, according to an analysis of NHS waiting time data by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).

NHS England has told health trusts to ensure that by 2027 no more than 20% of all patients have to wait this long to receive any of the tests it uses to detect diseases, such as CT scans and MRIs.

However, delays are so common that almost half (46%) of trusts are missing the six-week target, the RCR analysis found.

The hold-ups are dangerous because patients’ treatment cannot start until

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