GREAT Western Hospital exceeded the national standard for cancer patients waiting times in the last three months.

Government targets say that 93 per cent of all cancer patients should be seen within two weeks of referral - in the first quarter of the financial year starting in April, the trust which runs Swindon's hospital managed to exceed that with 95.1 per cent of all cancer patients seen within that time.

The trust also more than met the target for starting treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral by a GP. While the national standard is 85 per cent, 93.1 per cent of the trust's cancer patients started treatment within two months - the target for symptomatic breast cancer patients was missed however, with a performance y the trust of 89.99 per cent against a standard of 93 per cent.

The figures are in a report on the Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to be given to councillors on Swindon Borough Council's Adult Care, Adult Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on Wednesday at 6pm at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street.