The NHS in North and West Cumbria has said it is continuing to ‘work hard’ to reduce waiting lists which have fell slightly in July.

NHS England figures show 38,903 patients were waiting for non-urgent elective operations or treatment at North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) at the end of July – down from 39,872 in June, but an increase in 36,210 in July 2023.

Of those, 1,111 (3 per cent) had been waiting for longer than a year.

8,963 patients were waiting for one of 12 standard tests, such as an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy at this time.

Of them, 1,521 (17 per cent) had been waiting for at least six weeks.

The NHS states 85% of cancer patients with an urgent referral should start treatment within 62 days.

But NHS England data shows just 64 per cent of cancer patients urgently referred to NCIC in July began treatment within two months of their referral.

That was up from 52 per cent in June, but down from 66 per cent in July 2023.

A spokesperson for NCIC said: “In July, our diagnostics waiting list has decreased for the third month in a row and more patients are being seen within the 6 week standard than in June.

“The Referral to Treatment waiting list has also decreased for the third month in a row. 7,859 patients started their treatment with us, however the data shows that some patients are waiting a bit longer than they were in June.

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“We continue to work hard to tackle our waiting lists and the waiting times for patients.

“We continue to work hard to improve our cancer waiting times for patients and have seen slight improvements in our performance this month, however we know there is much more to do.

“We urge anyone who no longer needs to be on our waiting list to let us know, and similarly, let us know if their condition worsens while they wait."