FAR too many suspected breast cancer sufferers in York are having to wait too long to see a specialist, according to new figures published today.

York Health Services Trust has the worst record in Yorkshire in ensuring patients receive a first outpatient appointment within two weeks.

But York District Hospital general manager Susan Acott said today the backlogs were due to it having only one dedicated breast cancer surgeon, while Scarborough had two, despite having a much lower population.

"We have now been given the resource to advertise and employ a second breast surgeon, and we would expect that person in post by January at the latest."

Waiting times had improved since these figures were produced, thanks largely to the appointment of a GP as a clinical assistant to help with diagnosis, and no women waited longer than the prescribed two weeks in July.

Miss Acott said the figures did not reflect the high quality of their clinical service.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has ordered that everyone with suspected breast cancer should see a specialist within 14 days of their GP deciding to refer them urgently and requesting an appointment.

In the three months to June 30, the York trust achieved this for 46 patients whose referral was received within 24 hours.

But 18 people had to wait longer than two weeks, according to Department of Health figures. This met the Government target in just under 72 per cent of cases.

The average for the whole of the Northern & Yorkshire region was 95.8 per cent.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Trust, and Northallerton Health Services Trust had 100 per cent records, and Harrogate Health Care Trust 97.9 per cent.

In the previous three months, the York trust's record was 65.3 per cent. The Department of Health also monitors waiting times for patients whose referral is not received by the hospital within 24 hours.

The York trust achieved the government target in only 27.8 per cent of cases in the three months to June where the referral was not received within 24 hours.

Its record was 19.5 per cent for the previous three months.