Lung cancer patients can now access information about how well hospital trusts are performing compared to national standards using an online map.

According to the Lung Cancer Smart Map, published today by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF), 75 per cent of patients should have a test to diagnose the type of disease.

The benchmark includes histological and cytological tests. The first studies the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues, and the latter investigates cell morphology and reactions.

The RCLCF says different types of lung cancer can be treated effectively in different ways.

In the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust area, the percentage of people receiving the tests is 59.7 for patients first seen in 2011.

A spokesman for the Trust said: “Bradford lung cancer patients have access to advanced cancer treatment, including stereotactic radiotherapy, a potentially curative treatment only available in a limited number of hospitals in England.

“Patients receiving stereotactic radiotherapy have small cancers and sometimes do not have a biopsy prior to treatment . This is reflected in our low histological confirmation rate – 60.9 per cent, compared to 75.9 per cent in England.”

Some patients may also be too unwell for the tests, or decline the investigation.

The Smart Map includes regional data from the National Lung Cancer Audit. It uses five measures to compare treatment – a test for lung cancer type; if patients are discussed by a lung cancer care team; if they are seen by a nurse specialist; if they have an operation, and if they receive active anti-cancer treatment.

Overall, the Bradford Teaching Hospitals and Airedale NHS Foundations Trusts are exceeding national targets, with Airedale improving on all measures since 2010.

Specialists hope the map will make people more aware of symptoms and encourage them to get early diagnosis and go to their GPs if they have had a cough for more than three weeks.

The Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust has seen its figures mainly drop since 2010, though it is still above the national benchmark in two of the five categories. But a spokesman said it was not failing patients.

“Our most current data shows that in Bradford more patients have active treatment, surgery and chemotherapy than the national average.” he said.

In Bradford, the majority of suspected lung cancer patients are seen within one week of being referred by a GP.

The RCLCF’s online interactive map aims to make data accessible and easy to understand for patients. It also shows the sequence of events that led to a cancer diagnosis in every case of cancer diagnosed in England between 2006 and 2008. It is hoped this information will help with early diagnosis.

The map can be viewed at roycastle.org.