SOUTHEND and Basildon hospitals have fallen below the NHS 62-day target for cancer patients to receive treatment, new data shows.

According to NHS figures, the two hospitals fell heavily below the national target of 85 per cent for cancer patients to receive treatment in under 62 days.

In September, 70 per cent of cancer patients at Basildon Hospital were receiving treatment within nine weeks, while at Southend, 63.3 per cent of cancer patients were receiving treatment in the same timescale.

Nationwide, 76 per cent of cancer patients receive treatment within 62 days.

Basildon and Southend hospitals also missed the NHS target for A&E patients to be seen within four hours.

In September, 2018, 96.8 per cent of A&E patients were seen within four hours at Basildon.

In October this year, the position has worsened to 89.8 per cent seen within four hours.

At Southend the figures dropped from 90.6 per cent to 81.6 per cent in the same time period.

Clare Burns, director of operations in elective care at Southend Hospital addressed the cancer waiting times.

She said: “We are working to reduce current waiting times for cancer care but recognise that there is more to be done.

“We are already making progress with reducing cancer waiting times, with a reduction in the number of patients with very long waiting times.

Fiona Ryan, director of operations for planned care at Basildon Hospital, added: “Improving our delivery of cancer care is an area of daily focus for us and we are working tirelessly to provide a better service to patients.

“We have agreed an improvement plan to deliver the 62-day national target, working closely with our partner hospitals, who play a vital part in the delivery of cancer care for our patients across Mid and South Essex.”

Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend Council, told the Echo the figures were very worrying.

He said: “It’s a sign that the NHS continues to be under pressure.

“We need more investment in our area, rather than the downgrades that we are being threatened with.”