Cancer patients and those who may have the disease are not being seen quickly enough in Worcestershire.

The performance report given to the governing bodies of the three Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups shows that health services are missing four key targets on cancer care.

Under national targets, 93 per cent of patients should see a specialist within two weeks if their GP suspects they might have cancer. But in South Worcestershire, that target is met for only 78.4 per cent of patients, with the same percentage in Redditch and Bromsgrove and 79 per cent in Wyre Forest.

The figures are even worse for possible breast cancer patients, where 93 per cent of patients referred should be seen by a specialist within two weeks even if cancer isn’t suspected. In South Worcestershire only 58.9 per cent of women are seen within that time. It’s 58.9 per cent in Redditch and Bromsgrove and 61.5 per cent in Wyre Forest.

In the case of an urgent referral by a GP, the target is for treatment to start within 62 days for 85 per cent of patients with any cancer. In South Worcestershire, 80.9 per cent of patients are treated within the time frame, with 82 per cent in Redditch and Bromsgrove and 80 in Wyre Forest.

The targets for a 31-day wait for surgery are also not being met, though the situation is improving, and targets for making sure people don’t wait longer than a month for treatment to start after a decision to treat them is made, or for drug or radiation treatments to begin, are all being met.

Katie Eaton, from Worcester, who has already fought off a condition that precedes cervical cancer, was told she has to wait another 30 days for a smear test after a hospital error.

Her mum, Pauline, 59, lost her husband Joe to prostate cancer at the age of 61 earlier this month. She said: “Having to wait and not knowing what’s going on is one of the worst things.”

Jo Judges, of Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “If you have just been diagnosed with cancer, the very last thing you need is a long wait for treatment. Not only can this be incredibly distressing, there is also a chance your health could deteriorate."

"It is very disappointing that recent figures show that once again, cancer waiting time targets for starting treatment after an urgent referral have not been met.

“Despite the very best efforts of hardworking doctors and nurses, too many cancer patients are facing these avoidable delays.

"If the NHS is to deliver world class cancer care, people with cancer must be supported from the moment they are referred, through treatment, and after recovery.”

Worcestershire CCGs did not respond to the Worcester News' request for a comment before we went to print.