MORE than a third of patients are waiting more than six weeks for vital cancer treatment, the latest figures have shown.

According to the latest data from NHS England, 36 per cent of Southend Hospital cancer patients are having to wait more than eight weeks to start treatment despite an urgent referral from their GP.

This is more than double the NHS target which says no more than 15 per cent of patients should have to wait that long.

Southend Hospital, a specialist cancer centre, has not hit this target since January 2015 and there are currently only four trusts whose performance is worse.

Basildon Hospital fares slightly better with only 24 per cent of patients waiting more than eight weeks for treatment.

Cancer patient and campaigner Ashley Dalton has said this kind of delay in treatment can be “highly distressing” for patients battling the disease.

She had to wait an “agonising” 31 days for treatment.

She added: “It is deeply worrying to see Southend Hospital lagging behind on cancer waiting times.

“As a cancer patient myself, I know from personal experience that uncertainty around treatment can be highly distressing.”

Southend Hospital says recent funding will help it improve its performance and meet the national target.

Clare Burns, director of operations for planned and scheduled care at Southend Hospital, said: “We want to assure our patients and their loved ones that we are working to make sure that any patient delays on the 62-day pathway are escalated.

“If something hasn’t happened, then we shall find a way to make that happen, whether that’s waiting for results to come back, getting an outpatient appointment or arranging surgery.

“Cancer is a key priority area and helping us deliver on that promise is funding we have been given by NHS Improvement and the Cancer Alliance which will give us more clinical staff, extra admin staff and the capacity for more diagnostic reporting.

“Most importantly, this will enable us to diagnose and treat cancer patients at Southend more quickly.”

Fiona Ryan, director of operations planned and scheduled care at Basildon Hospital said: “We are very concerned that we are performing below the required standard for the 62-day wait time and are working tirelessly to address this.

“We have agreed an improvement plan and are on track to deliver this.

“We will continue working hard to improve patient care.”