MP CALLS FOR URGENT PLAN TO SOLVE LOCAL CANCER BACKLOG

Today, Tim Farron MP has called new data that revealed 312 people were left to wait over two weeks to see a cancer specialist after a GP referral by Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and 243 patients within North Cumbria's NHS Trust, "disgraceful".

The figures were uncovered in new analysis of NHS data by the Liberal Democrats. The NHS target is for 93% of patients to see a cancer specialist within two weeks of GP referral. Within the South Lakes this was the case for just 83.5% of patients and 82.24% of patients within North Cumbria.

Tim has called on the Government to bring forward an urgent plan to improve cancer care considering the revelations.

Nationwide, 108 NHS Trusts missed the two-week target and a staggering 62,360 people had to wait more than two weeks to see a cancer specialist in August alone. Commenting today, Tim said: "It is devastating that so many people within Cumbria are being let down. We all know how crucial early diagnosis with cancer is and too few people are receiving that care in good time.

"The government has failed to properly plan to help people as shown by the complete failure to meet targets across the country.

"Our NHS is being run into the ground. We have ballooning ambulance wait times and understaffed hospitals with a Conservative government that has done nothing but shrug its shoulders in the face of the problem.

"It's not good enough and people in Cumbria deserve better."

Tim, an active campaigner for better cancer care, has called for an urgent plan to invest in NHS staff to help clear the backlog and guarantee early diagnosis to help save lives.