FEWER than one in seven cancer patients waited more than two months to start treatment after referral from their GP, with Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group hitting the NHS target.

Between October 2017 and September 2018, 1,168 cancer patients were referred to hospital urgently by their doctors, and 174 did not start their treatment within 62 days, according to the latest NHS figures.

That means 85% were seen within two months, hitting the Government's operational target.

The target aims to ensure almost all patients start treatment in two months.

However, it does allow for a minority of patients who choose to delay their course of treatment. This may include chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy.

Wirral CCG's figure is roughly the same as in 2016-17, when 85% of patients started treatment two months after referral.

The latest time period, June to September, was the worst on record in England for cancer waiting times. Around three quarters of CCGs missed the GP referral target.

The percentage of patients starting treatment within two months has dropped from 87% in 2012-2013, to 80% in the first half of 2018-19. Nationally the target hasn't been hit since 2013.

The poorest record in England is in Thurrock CCG, Essex, where only 63% of cancer patients started treatment within two months. The best record is in Surrey Heath CCG where it was 92%.

Commenting on the national figures, Dr Fran Woodard, executive director of policy and impact at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “These figures are further evidence of a worrying trend which demonstrates that the pressure on cancer services is truly beginning to bite."

She said it is "imperative" the Government addresses the challenges facing the workforce in the NHS Long Term Plan.

"We cannot expect world-class cancer care for patients in the future without enough staff with the right skills to deliver it."

Dr Nicola Strickland, president of The Royal College of Radiologists, said: "More evidence of the ongoing downward trend away from the NHS’ 62-day referral to treatment target is stark but unsurprising in view of the increasing referral rates for suspected cancer.

"The cancer care system is having to treat more and more patients with rationed workforce, equipment and support, when it urgently needs more capacity."

An NHS England spokeswoman said: "Thanks to greater awareness, more people are coming forward for prostate cancer checks, the NHS is treating more patients than ever before, and NHS England recently announced an injection of £10m to treat the extra people coming forward.”