Almost all women with suspected breast cancer urgently referred to hospital are being seen by a consultant within two weeks.

Most hospitals in Sussex are managing to hit or get close to the Government's target for 100 per cent of women to be seen in that time.

A total of 202 women were sent to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton between April and June this year.

Two hundred, or 99 per cent, saw a consultant within 14 days. The average for England and Wales is just over 98 per cent.

The news for the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath is not so good, with 43 of the 51 women referred getting an appointment within two weeks, a percentage of 84 per cent.

This is an improvement over the same period last year, when just over 60 per cent of women were seen on time at the hospital.

Pressures caused by staff shortages are believed to be part of the reason behind the delays but health trust bosses are looking at the organisation of the service.

The breast cancer service in Brighton has managed to hit the 100 per cent mark for most of this year. Last year, it was recording some of the lowest rates in England, at one stage dropping below 60 per cent.

But the rearrangement of appointment times and bringing in more clinics and staff have improved results.

A hospital spokesman said: "We are continuing to work on making sure our hospitals meet the standards demanded."

Eastbourne District General Hospital and Conquest Hospital in Hastings dealt with 77 and 78 patients respectively and all were seen within two weeks.

Worthing Hospital, which has on average about 300 urgent breast cancer referral every year, is also meeting the 100 per cent target.