THE SURVIVAL rate of cancer patients in Dorset one year after diagnosis is still on the rise, new figures show.

However, this comes as early diagnosis rates lag behind Government targets for 75 per cent of cancer cases to be detected at stage one or two by 2028.

NHS Digital figures show 75.5 per cent of people living in the NHS Dorset CCG area survived the first year after their cancer diagnosis in 2019.

This was up from 75 per cent the year prior and 68.3 per cent in 2004, when records began.

The figures do not include patients with prostate and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Across England, one-year survival rates steadily rose over 15 years, from 64.4 per cent to 74.6 per cent.

However, little progress has been made on early diagnosis and the national rate remains well below the 75 per cent target, which was first announced as part of the NHS Long Term Plan in 2018.

In Dorset, 56.7 per cent of all cancer diagnoses in 2019 were classified as stage one or two, up from 55.5 per cent over the same time period.

Mr Hunt, chairman of the Government's health and social care committee, which recently published a report on cancer services nationally, warned early cancer diagnosis is being jeopardised by staff shortages and the "damaging and prolonged impact" of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the NHS is not on track to meet the Government's early cancer diagnosis target and more than 340,000 people will miss out on an early diagnosis between 2019 and 2028 without fixing key issues.

An NHS England spokesperson said cancer care is a priority for the organisation and the £3.8 billion plan to recover elective care over the next three years will help catch and treat more cancers at an early stage.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We recognise that business as usual on cancer is not enough – that’s why we have redoubled our efforts and are developing a 10-Year Cancer Plan to set out how we will lead the world in cancer care."

The DHSC has promised to tackle the Covid-19 backlog, reduce cancer waiting times and invest £8 billion over the next three years, adding to an extra £2 billion investment in 2021.