Hundreds of cancer patients in Black Country and Staffordshire wait more than two months for treatment

The NHS set a 62-day target for all patients to have started their treatment by.

But 765 had to wait longer in 2014. The worst offender in the Black Country was the trust that runs Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, where 139 patients were left to wait – up nine per cent on 2013.

Elsewhere, 266 patients at University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust waited more than 62 days.

In Walsall the number was 108, Dudley was 115 and there were 94 patients at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust who waited longer than the NHS target dictates.

Bosses at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said 'unexpected staff absences' were partly behind the high number.

Chief operating officer Gwen Nuttall said: "The trust acknowledges we have had some challenges in achieving the cancer standards.

"These have come about as a result of increased patient referrals coupled with a number of unexpected staff absences."

Paula Clark, chief executive at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We consistently exceed the waiting time target to treat 85 per cent of patients referred to Russells Hall Hospital with cancer within the Government-set target of 62 days of their GP referral."

In total, 20,000 patients had to wait too long for treatment across England, of which 2,245 were in the West Midlands.

Patients have a right to receive their first treatment within 62 days of receiving an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer, according to the NHS Constitution.

However, the NHS in England missed the target for all four quarters in 2014.

The figures come after separate NHS data last week revealed a record 19,000 patients waiting more than six weeks for key diagnostic tests, including seven that detect cancer.

Research was conducted by the Labour Party.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said: "David Cameron cut the cancer budget by £800 million in real terms and, despite all the warnings, he persisted with an NHS reorganisation that disrupted cancer services. The deterioration in cancer care is a direct consequence of Government policies and the clearest proof the Tories can't be trusted with the NHS."

Rob Marris, Labour's candidate for Wolverhampton South West, said: "These figures show you can't trust Mr Cameron with our NHS.

"In the last year, scores of cancer patients have waited too long here in Wolverhampton for treatment to start and, in some cases, their chances of survival will have been harmed."