Unprecedented demand for cancer treatments has seen Dorset County Hospital struggle to hit NHS targets on treatment waiting times.

Patients waiting to receive their first treatment within 62 days, from the moment of referral, was well below the NHS target of 85 per cent.

Of 1,359 people, only 68 per cent between January and November 2023 received their first cancer treatment at the Dorchester hospital within the 62 day standard set by NHS England.

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This means that 440 people were not treated for at least two months after they were first referred to a consultant or for a screening.

The hospital has put this down to a surge in demand for cancer services since the pandemic.

Anita Thomas, chief operating officer at DCH, said: “Dorset County Hospital has seen an unprecedented increase in demand for cancer services - with some specialties seeing as much as a 30 per cent increase in referrals compared to pre COVID-19 figures, which has inevitably had an impact on waiting times.

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"We are committed to doing everything we can to see patients as soon as possible, including investing in additional capacity which has helped us to maintain the current level of waiting times.”

DCH was much closer in hitting its other targets for treatment waiting times, however, it did fail to meet them.

Patients waiting to hear whether they have cancer following an urgent referral are expected to receive the news within 28 days.

Some 71 per cent of people were told within the standard, falling just short of the NHS target of 75 per cent.

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For patients waiting to receive their first treatment after a decision to treat has been made, which has a 31 day standard, 95.7 per cent were seen, fractionally shy of the 96 per cent target.

Mrs Thomas added: “While there is still more work to be done, cancer waiting times at DCH are comparable to the national performance for April to June 2023, with performance of the 28 day faster diagnosis standard at 71.7 per cent, the 31 day standard at 90.3 per cent and the 62 day standard at 65 per cent.”

The news of cancer treatment waiting times not hitting NHS targets has seen Cancer Research UK call for government action.

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They are asking for more investment in staff and equipment, along with the reform of cancer treatment services to ensure that targets are not being continually missed.

Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: "Every cancer wait time target in England has been missed.

"Thousands of cancer patients across the country face a more anxious and uncertain time as a result.

"Despite the best efforts of NHS staff, many people are waiting longer than they should to be diagnosed and treated. The last time all targets for cancer waiting times were met was as far back as 2015.

“It’s vital that the UK Government delivers additional investment in NHS staff and diagnostic equipment, coupled with reform to cancer services.

"Without this, targets will continue to be missed, and patients will not receive the level of care that they deserve.”