ALMOST one in five cancer patients in Dorset had to wait more than two months to start treatment in August, figures reveal.

But service users still rate the NHS's care in this county as some of the best in Britain, according to a separate survey.

The NHS has a target for 85 per cent of all referrals to start treatment within two months.

But NHS England figures show that only 82 per cent of NHS Dorset CCG patients received their first cancer treatment within 62 days of a GP urgent referral in August.

This is an improvement from 79 per cent in August last year but Cancer Research says too many patients wait too long after an urgent GP referral, and that there “just aren’t enough people” in the NHS to carry out tests.

Cancer Research UK’s policy manager, Matt Case, said: “Too many patients are waiting too long after an urgent GP referral to get a diagnosis and start treatment. It’s already a stressful time for them, and delays can make that even worse.

“Diagnosing more cancers at an early stage is impossible without more people being referred for tests. But despite NHS staff working harder than ever, there just aren’t enough people to deliver the number of tests needed.

“These figures give us a monthly reminder of how much pressure the NHS is under. To have any chance of meeting its ambitions for early diagnosis, the Government must invest to make sure we have enough key cancer staff now and in the future.”

The figures also show that there is now a record number of patients missing out on the two-week target from referral to a consultant appointment across the country.

In Dorset, 82 per cent of patients had their first consultant appointment within two weeks despite a 93 per cent target.

Meanwhile, 86 per cent had their cancer-related surgery within a month, against a target of 94 per cent.

Across England, the proportion of those waiting within two weeks for their first consultant appointment dropped to a record low of 89 per cent in August, compared to 92 per cent last year.

Ten years ago, in October 2009, the earliest period available, 95 per cent of patients attended their first consultation appointment within two weeks.

However, Dorset Cancer Partnership said users of cancer services across Dorset have rated them as some of the best services in the country, in a recent national survey.

Commissioned by NHS England, the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey is now in its eighth year and in Dorset just under 1,500 - 70 per cent of patients approached - completed the survey, which was higher than the national response rate.

Overall the national average score was 8.8 out of a possible 10 - Dorset services scored 9.0.

Clinical Lead for the Dorset Cancer Partnership, Dr Richard Sim said: “I am very pleased that the hard work Dorset Cancer Partnership have put into ensuring an excellent service for our patients is reflected in their feedback.”

Primary Care Lead for the Dorset Cancer Partnership, Dr Sarnia Ward, said “We are proud of these excellent results and they are testament to the hard work of staff across primary and community care, our three hospitals and many charity organisations.

"These results show that throughout Dorset we are – on the whole – getting it right.

We will however continue to work with our local partners to further improve services and endeavour to make next years’ results even better."