A hospital trust has achieved the national standard for cancer treatment for the very first time making it one of the fastest in the country.

The 62-day standard for patients to start treatment after seeing a GP or the first signs of cancer being identified has been met for the second month running by Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

It has hit the standard for all four cancer care targets for the first time.

The other standards are patients starting treatment within 31-days of an agreement with the doctor of a treatment plan; two weeks between visiting a GP and first appointment with a consultant and the 28-day diagnosis from referral target.

Performance for patients at Medway Maritime Hospital against the 62-day referral to treatment standard is at its best in two-and-a-half years.

Ellie Thomas, deputy divisional director of operations for planned care at Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: “Despite the pressures of the pandemic, staff at the Trust have been working hard to not only maintain our normal services but actively improve the care that we provide to our community.

“This has meant that cancer patients in Medway and Swale have had an earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, a lower risk of complications, a better experience of care and improved outcomes.”

NHS England figures show 86% of people were treated within the 62-day target while six people waited longer in November.

New data about December is due to be published on Thursday.

Dr George Finday, chief executive of Medway NHS Trust, said he is "incredibly proud" of the cancer services.

The trust says the department has strengthened the leadership team and working closer with other hospital teams and services outside the NHS such as Macmillan.

The hospital is also working closer with the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance, which brings together clinicians and managers from the health and social care sector to develop the diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients.

Jeremy Davis, clinical director of cancer care services at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Trust, but more so for our patients as it demonstrates our continuing effort to provide the best possible patient care.

“This is the first time that the trust has achieved compliance in these four key standards, and is a credit to the excellent team we have within our cancer services department, the hard work of all the clinical services involved in diagnosing and treating patients with cancer."