Almost three quarters of cancer patients are waiting more than a month to be treated at West Midland hospitals following referral by family doctors, it emerged today.

Over three months, 547 people suspected of having the disease were sent to specialists, but only 157 were treated within 31 days.

Some patients waited up to 100 days for treatment, although not serious cases.

Revamped government guidelines aim to ensure people suspected of having cancer by their GP should wait no longer than a month.

The NHS Cancer Plan states: “Where patients wait longer, this should be because of the needs of the diagnostic process or their personal choice, not because of in-built delays in the system of care.”

Sue Hartley, director of performance for Walsall Manor Hospital, said: “The new cancer waits targets were introduced this year and we have been working hard to meet their requirements.

“Although we are meeting the majority of them and we are very pleased with our progress, further work is being undertaken to ensure that we meet them all.”

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman Helen Eden said 90.4 per cent of cancer patients had been treated within the government’s separate 62-day target.

“We take cancer waiting times very seriously and recognise that it is important to diagnose and treat people who have cancer quickly, particularly because it is a disease that causes a lot of anxiety,” she said.

By Richard Williams