Hundreds of thousands of UK cancer patients forced to pay for private treatment

Exclusive: As NHS targets are being missed nearly 300,000 people paid for chemotherapy in last five years

Hundreds of thousands of cancer patients in the UK are being forced to pay for private treatment amid record NHS waiting times, according to data obtained by the Guardian.

The figures emerged as King Charles began treatment for the disease within days of being diagnosed. Buckingham Palace has not specified whether the king is receiving private healthcare or being treated on the National Health Service.