MORE than 99 per cent of suspected cancer patients in Swindon are now seen by a specialist within two weeks.

The latest figures show that only five of the 579 people referred by their GP in the last quarter of 2002 failed to get an appointment within a fortnight.

Of those five, four were seen within 16 days, with the remaining patient seen within 21 days.

None waited more than three weeks.

The record of Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust was better than the national average of almost 98 per cent of patients seen within a fortnight.

Of the four Swindon patients who waited up to 16 days, two had suspected breast cancer and the others were feared to have gynaecological cancer.

The patient who waited longest to see a specialist had suspected skin cancer, according to the Department of Health report.

Swindon and Marlbor-ough NHS trust spokes-man Chris Birdsall said: "We are delighted that we are doing so well in this area.

"The reason is the huge amount of hard work and dedication by the team in cancer services.

"Like everyone else in the trust they have been working hard to get waiting times down and it is very gratifying to see that all their efforts are reflected in these impressive figures."

The government has pledged to cut deaths from cancer in people under 75 by at least a fifth by 2010 saving up to 100,000 lives in total.

Under the government's spending plans, the NHS will spend £570 million more in 2003/4 on cancer services than in 2000/01 an increase of around 30 per cent.

Public Health Minister Hazel Blears announced plans to improve training for cancer doctors and nurses and to spend more money on medical technology to diagnose the disease.

From next year, every patient diagnosed with cancer will be able to book an appointment with a specialist at a convenient time.