Patients can wait up to 17 week

Today's pledge by John Reid to have all women who fear they may have breast cancer seen by a specialist within two weeks highlights the long wait some have to endure.

Although every woman believed to be in need of "urgent" attention by a specialist is already seen within two weeks, others can be left waiting up to 17 weeks.

In London, the worst wait for "non-urgent" cases is at St George's trust in Tooting, where women have to wait 60 days, compared to just six days in Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust.

Disparities exist across London.

Kingston Hospital takes 11 days to see women, meaning it already meets Dr Reid's planned target.

But Chase Farm hospital sees non-urgent cases in 20 days, while Charing Cross Hospital takes 35 days and Queen Mary's in Sidcup takes 49 days.

This puts lives at risk, according to Breast Cancer Care, which published the figures this year.

Campaign group Breakthrough Breast Cancer has warned that 40 per cent of all cases were initially thought to be "non-urgent" by GPs - putting up to 10,000 women in England at risk of not being dealt with rapidly enough.

Delath Morgan, its chief executive, said: "Around 10,000 women are being asked to put their lives on hold and endure long routine waits of up to 17 weeks for their eventual breast cancer diagnosis. This is unacceptable."