CANCER patients are having to wait months to get life-saving treatment, according to research on patient waiting times.

The research carried out by Labour found that patients from Trafford who used cancer treatment services in Manchester were worst served by the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in January and February.

The Christie disputes the figures, which Labour says show more than four in 10 patients — 43 per cent — had to wait more than 62 days.

The figures for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust were better at two people in every 10 — 22 per cent — waiting that long.

However, both trust figures were outside national NHS target where of 15 per cent of patients waiting for 62 days and more. A target last met in 2013/2014.

It meant that across the country more than 4,500 patients were waiting months for cancer treatment.

Jonathan Ashworth, shadow Secretary of State for Health, said: "This winter hundreds of cancer operations were cancelled despite Tory promises the NHS was better prepared than ever before and thousands of patients are still waiting beyond the target of 62 days for treatment after an urgent GP referral.

“Let’s be clear — years of underfunding and abject failure to invest in the frontline doctors and nurses we need means Theresa May is letting down cancer patients."

A spokesman for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: “The demand for cancer services at our hospitals increased by 17 per cent in 2017/18, which has exceeded capacity in some areas and put additional pressure on diagnostic services.

“We have a plan in place to increase our capacity to meet the growing demand and improve the timeliness and efficiency of our cancer treatment pathways.

“As a result, more patients are now being seen within seven days for their first appointment, rather than the national standard of 14 days. We are also working with our partners in Greater Manchester to support the delivery of cancer services across the region.”

A spokesman for The Christie said: “The latest NHS England figures do not accurately reflect our performance around cancer waiting times. NHS Intelligence and NHS England which commissions and regulates our services, use revised reallocated data to monitor the performance of hospitals in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

“This data shows that the national target of 85 per cent has been consistently exceeded in our cancer network every quarter since October, 2011, with the latest performance figure at 86.5 per cent.

“The Christie has also exceeded the national target for cancer waiting times with an individual performance figure at 88.4 per cent.

“By working in partnership with trusts across Greater Manchester and Cheshire we are always endeavouring to improve patient pathways and ensure that patients receive timely access to cancer treatment.”