Around 95% of women with suspected breast cancer are seeing a consultant within 14 days of referral by their GP, according to new figures.

Announcing the figures, minister for public health Yvette Cooper also outlined draft cancer referral guidance for all GPs and an action plan to help doctors meet the Government target of all urgent cancer referrals to be made within 24-hours.

The figures released on Friday show that 73% of urgent referrals were received by NHS Trusts within 24 hours.

National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards said: "These breast cancer figures are excellent news. Over the next year we will be implementing the two-week target for all cancers.

"We are determined to bring more specialists on stream as quickly as possible to ensure that patients with any type of cancer are rapidly diagnosed and treated."

There were variations around the country, with 83% of women being seen within two weeks in the North West region, compared to 99% in the South West.

Overall, the 95% figure for the three months to the end of September was an improvement on the 91% recorded in the previous quarter.

The draft referral guidance, issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, will make it easier for GPs to identify patients who need to be fast tracked for urgent investigation.

They cover a range of cancers, including breast and lung cancer and they also offer advice on identifying possible central nervous system and children's tumours.

The action plan, to help GPs to refer patients to see a specialist within 24-hours, will be funded from the £10 million announced by the Prime Minister in September.

Referral centres

It includes persuading GPs to use faxes, telephones and e-mail to make urgent referrals, instead of relying on the post, providing referral centres in trusts to provide a single point of contact with GPs, and providing feedback to individual GPs about their referrals.

Yvette Cooper said: "The two-week referral is helping to reduce anxiety for thousands of women.

"As part of our action on cancer we are also setting up nine innovative and challenging cancer projects across the country. They are working right now on improving standards of cancer care. This means pre-planning and co-ordinating patients treatment, by giving them certainty and choice over appointments and schedules, reducing unnecessary delays and ensuring they get the best possible care."

A test study the West London and Environs Cancer Collaborative Team has demonstrated that by carrying out a range of tests and an ultrasound scan during a single visit to hospital, they can reduce wait for diagnosis for prostrate cancer from around 20 weeks to nearer 3 weeks, she said.

But Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "The Government's policies for tackling cancer are hopelessly flawed.

"Yet again we see that Labour's management of the NHS is grossly incompetent and patients are paying a huge price."