LUNG cancer treatment in Southampton is better than the national average, according to a new interactive map launched today.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Southamp-ton General Hospital, has exceeded three of the four national targets set for the treatment of lung cancer patients.

The new interactive smart map, set up by the Roy Castle Lung Foundation, aims to give patients the chance to see how |treatment in their area compares against government targets.

In Southampton it shows that the 234 patients first seen in 2011 received some of the best care available, doing better than the national average in areas such as getting a test to diagnose the type of lung cancer, which in Southampton is 78 per cent, compared to the national target of 75 per cent.

Other successes include 74 per cent of patients receiving active anti-cancer treatment compared to the target of 60 per cent.

However, there is room for improvement, with just 52 per cent of patients being seen by a lung cancer nurse specialist, compared to the national target of 80 per cent.

Dr Jesme Fox, from the charity, said: “There may be many reasons why some areas aren’t meeting national standards but the point of this map is to give patients the power to ask why.

“We hope that the Smart Map will encourage patients to work with their doctors in making sure they get the best care available.”

See the map at http://bit.ly/12smaPW.