DELAYS in starting life-saving treatment for cancer patients in Southampton have been criticised by Parliament’s watchdog.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) has admitted it is among many hospitals “finding it difficult to cope” with a rising demand for cancer services.

One in every five people suspected of having the disease are failing to get an appointment with a specialist within two months of a referral by their GP latest figures show.

The number of patients beginning treatment within 62 days has slumped to 80.6 per cent between July and September 2014 from 87 per cent in the same period in 2013.

It means UHS, which runs Southampton General and the Princess Anne hospitals, is in breach of the Government’s target for 85 per cent of patients to be seen within two months.

Now the National Audit Office (NAO) has raised the alarm. Its report noted: “Between July and September 2013 and July and September 2014 the number of trusts breaching this waiting time standard doubled from 32 to 64.”

At Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester – 92.3 per cent of cancer patients saw a specialist within 62 days – an increase from 91 per cent in the July-to-September period of 2013.

At UHS the slump means 74 patients were not seen in time – up from 42 the year before.

Dr Caroline Marshall, its chief operating officer, said the number of referrals it received was rising by 15 per cent each year, which meant “many hospital trusts are finding it difficult to cope”.

Furthermore, UHS, as a large specialist centre, provides advanced surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments to patients from across southern England – and further afield.

Dr Marshall added: “The variety and effectiveness of the latest treatments – which clinicians in Southampton contribute to as part of an active international research programme – is also increasing every year.

“However, we have made a number of improvements over the past year – including two new operating theatres, new assessment and diagnostic suites and additional staffing – and will continue to assess what other steps we may need to take to continue to meet the high levels of activity in cancer care.”

Across England the 62-day target was missed for more than 5,500 cancer patients – up from 4,231 a year earlier.

Hampshire’s embattled NHS is already under pressure over the A&E crisis, with waiting times at record levels, as reported by the Daily Echo.