The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has recorded its strongest-ever cancer results, ranking fourth nationally.

The trust's performance has remained above the national average since October 2025, with March 2026 marking its best-ever result. It also ranked fourth in the country in April for the number of patients starting treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.

Further progress was recorded in June, when the trust met all three national cancer targets for the first time since December 2025.

One of those targets looks at how quickly patients receive answers after being referred with suspected cancer. The Faster Diagnosis Standard aims for patients to be told whether they have cancer, or have it ruled out, within 28 days.

The improvements have been supported by closer working between hospitals and specialist cancer centres across Cheshire and Merseyside, including shared staff, jointly planned clinics and fewer duplicate appointments.

Cheshire and Merseyside is also performing strongly on skin cancer treatment times, with recent NHS data placing the region among the best-performing areas in England for patients with suspected skin cancer starting treatment within 62 days.

Cathy Chadwick, Chief Operating Officer at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the results were a testament to the work of staff across its cancer services.

She said: "We're incredibly proud to be among the best-performing trusts in the country for both cancer diagnosis and treatment times.

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"These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of colleagues across our cancer services and the excellent partnership working with specialist centres across the region."

National NHS targets require at least 80% of patients to receive a diagnosis or have cancer ruled out within 28 days, while 80% should begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.

The trust is continuing to invest in cancer services, including the recently renovated Chester Haematology Centre.