THE NHS trust that runs Leigh Infirmary and Wigan’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary has been rated the best in the country for the speed in which cancer patients are treated.

The latest published data on performance against three key NHS waiting time measures show that Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) saw 95.7 per cent of patients within 62 days of urgent GP referral, ahead of the 85 per cent target and the 82.6 per cent national average.

This ensured that WWL came out on top of the other 134 trusts in the country.

Julie Fletcher, cancer services manager at WWL, said: “The latest figures have shown that, for August, 95.7 per cent of WWL cancer patients began their treatment within 62 days of GP referral.

“This is an achievement we are very proud of and we are happy to provide a service for our patients which consistently exceeds the national cancer waiting times targets.”

WWL’s cancer care figures are testament to the work of the multi-disciplinary teams across the trust and staff at the Wigan hospital’s Cancer Care Centre.

The centre was made possible by a partnership between WWL, the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.

It contains 12 chemotherapy treatment areas, counselling facilities, a complementary therapy suite and Macmillan information and support services.

Some chemotherapy treatments which used to be undertaken at The Christie can now take place at the cancer centre within the grounds of the Wigan hospital.

A range of complementary therapy treatments such as reiki and massage are offered at the centre.