CANCER patients in the region are waiting longer for treatment, according to Labour analysis of official figures.

The party said in the North-East and Cumbria in 2014 1,378 patients waited too long for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other forms of treatment, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Patients have a right to receive their first treatment within 62 days of receiving an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer.

However, the NHS in England missed this target for all quarters in 2014.

Andy Burnham, MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said: “Ministers have left families facing anxious waits for cancer tests and treatment and their complacency is dangerous.”

Recently a report by a group of MPs said the push to improve cancer services in England had “lost momentum”.

In response Sean Duffy, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said it had established an independent taskforce to develop a new cancer strategy for the next five years.

It will focus on better prevention, faster diagnosis and better treatment, care and aftercare.