Up to 700 cancer patients are waiting more than SIX MONTHS for treatment, new statistics show

Up to 700 cancer patients are waiting more than six months for treatment, new figures show.

A freedom of information request showed that 59 per cent of NHS trusts that responded had longer cancer waiting times of more than 200 days.

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And 12% recorded queues that lasted more than a year.

NHS targets state that no one should wait more than two months between the date of referral and the start of treatment.

But the time target has not been met for almost 10 years, and one in three cases remains untreated for more than 62 days.

Labor last night promised to tackle the cancer treatment crisis by freeing up 40,000 extra appointments at night and weekends.

The party has also pledged to double the number of CT and MRI scanners – and to use available capacity in the private sector to diagnose patients more quickly.

Shadow Health Secretary and cancer survivor Wes Streeting told The Sun: “I know how important it is to receive a timely diagnosis so you can get the treatment you need, when you need it.

“But after 14 years of conservative chaos, the reality for many patients is that they are left waiting.

“Rishi Sunak’s desperate claim that the NHS is turning a corner has been dismissed.

“The NHS is desperate for change and only the Labor Party has a plan to deliver it. It’s time to end the chaos, turn the page and rebuild Britain.”