Figures reveal that one in three breast cancer patients is waiting more than two weeks to be seen by a specialist.
According to the NHS, most women who are suspected of having breast cancer and have been referred urgently by their doctor should be seen within 14 days.
This is despite the fact that hospitals have huge Covid backlogs.
It means that cases are going undiagnosed for longer – delaying treatment.
The latest figures released by NHS England indicate that the proportion of breast cancer referrals received after two weeks has more than doubled for October.
NHS advises that anyone being urgently diagnosed with breast cancer must see a specialist within fourteen days.
According to figures (File Image), one third of women with breast cancer may be waiting for critical appointments longer than two weeks.
In 12,905 cases the target was not met, which was 29.1 percent.
It was an increase of 12.5% on the previous month when 5280 patients (12.5%) did not receive appointments in the given timeframe.
Macmillan Cancer Support reported that the rate of stage-4-positive women was 48 percent higher than anticipated in certain months.
Labour’s health spokesman Wes Streeting said: ‘No one should be left waiting and wondering for weeks on end when it comes to cancer.
‘We need urgent answers on why under this Government the number of patients left waiting has risen so severely.’
A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘We are committed to ensuring people get the treatment they need.’
He said that cancer care remains a top priority.