MORE than 85 per cent of cancer patients across Hampshire started their treatment within two months of GP referral, it has been revealed.

Both the Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group and the West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group hit the NHS target.

During the 2017-18 financial year, 679 total cancer patients were referred to hospital urgently by their doctors at Southampton CCG, but 94 did not start their treatment within 62 days, according to NHS figures.

That means 86.2% were seen within two months, just clearing the government’s operational target of 85%.

In West Hampshire during the 2017-18 financial year, 2,007 total cancer patients were referred to hospital urgently by their doctors, and 280 did not start their treatment within 62 days, according to NHS figures.

That means 86% were seen within two months, also just clearing the government’s operational target of 85%.

However, the figures allow for a minority of patients who choose to delay their course of treatment, which may be chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy.

Southampton and West Hampshire CCGs’ figures are roughly the same as 2016-17, when 85.2% of patients started treatment two months after referral. Across England more than three quarters of all CCGs are running below the operational target.

The percentage of patients starting treatment within two months nationwide has dropped from 87.1% in 2012-2013, to 82.1% last year. Nationally the target hasn’t been hit since 2013. The poorest record is in Thurrock CCG, Essex, where only 59% of cancer patients started treatment within two months. The best record is in South Cheshire CCG where it was 93%.

Emlyn Samuel, from Cancer Research UK, said: “While most patients start their cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral, the target of 85% of patients is still being missed.

“We know that local hospitals make every effort to meet this target, but shortages in NHS diagnostic staff put services under severe pressure.

“Waiting for tests or to start treatment can be an anxious time for patients, so the Government must ensure that there are more staff to deliver the tests and treatment that people need.”

An NHS England spokeswoman said: “Cancer survival is now at an all-time high, but as part of our push for earlier diagnosis the NHS is deliberately putting itself under pressure by significantly increasing the number of people referred for quick cancer checks. So last year over 1.9 million people were urgently referred for suspected cancer by their GP – half a million more than just three years ago.”