Cancer tests are coming back a lot quicker at West Cumberland and the Cumberland Infirmary North Cumbria's hospital trust among the most improved in England for faster cancer diagnosis
Marra Mode is how your mate would tell you down the pub over a pint. Switch it off for the straight version.
Three in four people sent for urgent cancer checks by the North Cumbria trust are now getting an answer inside four weeks. That's nearly 20 points better than a year ago, though still a bit behind England overall.
This one's for anybody in West Cumbria who's been sent, or might get sent, for urgent cancer checks, and for their families.
North Cumbria Integrated Care, the trust that runs West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, is one of the most improved in England for cancer waits. That's from new analysis of NHS figures put out by the trust and local MP Josh MacAlister.
In August 2026, 74 per cent of people on an urgent referral got their answer, cancer or all-clear, within 28 days. That's up nearly 20 points on a year ago, and only five trusts in England improved more. Mind, England as a whole was on 79 per cent in August, so we're still a touch behind on that one.
On treatment, 78 per cent were treated within 62 days of an urgent referral in August, against 72 per cent for England. The analysis reckons that's the biggest improvement in the country. The NHS England figures had it at 54 per cent back in September 2025. Anything from April 2026 on is provisional, so it might get tweaked.
Trudie Davies, the trust's chief executive, said: "Waiting for a cancer diagnosis and treatment is a worrying and emotive time for our patients and their families."
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said: "Faster diagnosis means earlier treatment and greater peace of mind."
What you can do: if your GP sends you urgently, ask when you should hear back and who to ring if you don't. If something's worrying you, don't sit on it, get yourself to the GP. You can check the trust's monthly cancer figures in NHS England's cancer waiting times data.
North Cumbria Integrated Care, which runs West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary, told 74 per cent of patients on an urgent cancer referral whether they had cancer within 28 days in August, up nearly 20 points in a year.
This is for anyone in West Cumbria who has been, or may be, referred urgently for suspected cancer, and for their families.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, is among the most improved trusts in England for cancer waiting times, according to new analysis of NHS data shared by the trust and local MP Josh MacAlister.
In August 2026, 74 per cent of patients on an urgent referral got a diagnosis, or were told they did not have cancer, within 28 days. That is up nearly 20 percentage points in a year. Only five other trusts improved more over the same period. The England figure for August was 79 per cent, so the trust is still slightly behind the national average on this measure.
On treatment, 78 per cent of patients were treated within 62 days of an urgent referral in August, against 72 per cent for England. The analysis says the trust was the most improved in the country on this target. NHS England figures show it was 54 per cent in September 2025. Figures from April 2026 onwards are provisional.
Trudie Davies, the trust's chief executive, said: "Waiting for a cancer diagnosis and treatment is a worrying and emotive time for our patients and their families."
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said: "Faster diagnosis means earlier treatment and greater peace of mind."
What you can do: if your GP refers you urgently, ask when you should expect to hear and who to call if you haven't. Don't ignore symptoms that worry you, and see your GP. You can look up the trust's monthly cancer figures in NHS England's cancer waiting times data.