DORSET County Hospital Trust regularly breached a key cancer waiting time target during a period stretching just over two years, figures show.

Analysis of national data by Cancer Research UK revealed the target - aimed at making sure the majority of patients sent for urgent cancer investigations are seen within two months - has been missed across England for more than half a decade.

The charity is calling for major investment in services it says were struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic.

The NHS states 85 per cent of cancer patients urgently referred by a GP should start treatment within 62 days.

NHS England data shows Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust only met the target in three months between April 2019 and July this year (when comparable trust-level figures began).

In July, just 74 per cent of patients received cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral.

That was the same level as in June and a rise from 73 per cent in July last year.

A spokeswoman for Dorset County Hospital, said: “Since the Covid pandemic cancer services at DCH have continued to run and patients have been treated in order of clinical priority. Performance against the waiting time standards has seen a decline in 2021/22, which is being driven by a 20 per cent increase in referral rates compared to 2019/20.

"Whilst waits are longer, we are encouraged by this increase in demand for our services and the patients who may not have come forward during the peak of the pandemic, are now accessing treatment.”

Across England, just 72 per cent of patients received cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral in July.

The NHS target was last met nationally in December in 2015, while annual performance has worsened year-on-year since 2017.

Cancer Research UK said pressures caused by the pandemic, including a growing list of patients, were a factor, but also laid blame on workforce shortages and insufficient infrastructure.

Professor Charles Swanton, the charity's chief clinician, said: "For people with cancer, every day counts – that is why we have cancer targets.

"I've been working in the NHS for a long time and it’s hard to watch the continuous deterioration, and the anxiety and worsening outcomes this can cause patients."

The charity said a radical reform of screening and diagnostic services was needed, backed up by long-term investment from the upcoming spending review by the Government at the end of October.

Prof Swanton added: "The Government has to commit to long term investment in workforce and kit so that we can turn things around and give patients both the care and outcomes they deserve.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was providing record investment for the NHS, including an additional £9 billion for elective and cancer care.

A spokesperson said cancer diagnosis and treatment had remained "a top priority" throughout the pandemic.

"Almost half a million people were checked for cancer in June and July which is among the highest numbers ever," they added.