Patients with cancer and heart problems are waiting for life-saving treatment as government cuts bite, according to new research.

North west GPs were asked whether they had noticed an increase in waiting times and restrictions on treatment.

Around half said there had been delays for neurology and musculoskeletal care.

A third complained about delays for heart and eye care and almost a tenth had noticed an increase in waiting times for cancer care.

Comment: The sad reality of cuts in our NHS

The survey, of around 50 GPs, acknowledged restrictions on fertility, weight-loss and orthopaedic care, when questioned by Pulse, the GPs' trade magazine.

A third of the doctors questioned said along with the delays and restrictions they had noticed an increase in requests for information about private treatment.

Dr Mo Jiva, a Middleton GP who represents doctors from across the Rochdale and Bury area said: "We are all seeing patients who need treatment being sent back to us to be referred again in the future."

The most controversial finding will be the nine per cent of GPs who say there is a delay in cancer referrals.

Government targets say patients should be seen within two weeks of urgent referral and 31 days from diagnosis to treatment. The survey found more than 70 per cent of trusts were restricting fertility and weight-loss care. A quarter of GPs said orthopaedic operations like hip replacements were also being cut back.

A spokeswoman for the Patients' Council said: "To refuse or seriously delay treatment for people with heart problems, cancer and other serious ailments to wait longer for treatment breaches the very essence of the NHS to provide quality of life."

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