The Yorkshire Post says: Cancer challenge. The anxiety of diagnosis delays

As such, it would be churlish not to acknowledge the professionalism of health workers and their willingness to give up precious time with their own families so they can provide a level of care and compassion that should never be taken for granted.

Yet this does not excuse Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Leeds-based NHS England and Britain’s army of health bureaucrats from responding positively and constructively after it emerged that the average wait for a cancer diagnosis to be made is now 40 days.

On this evidence, it’s difficult to see a four-week diagnosis being possible by 2020 – the stated and laudable target of the Government and NHS – without the recruitment of extra staff and efficiency improvements.

For, while the public’s respect and admiration for the National Health Service remains absolute, as evidenced by the heartwarming testimonials from patients that The Yorkshire Post regularly receives and publishes, a recurring frustration is the difficulties that many encounter before they can see the correct specialist – this continues to cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

If communication could be improved, and if more GP surgeries and health centres remembered that they are, in fact, the front line of the NHS, Yorkshire’s hospitals might not find themselves under such a strain on a 24/7 basis.