LANCASHIRE lung cancer patients have the third worst survival rate in the country, it has been revealed.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation said it was time to end the ‘postcode lottery’.

It released the figures which are based on stats from 2009.

Lung cancer patients who died in Lancashire survived on average for 151.5 days after diagnosis — the third worst survival rate in the country and only a day and half longer than the worst.

In contrast people in the Thames Valley survived for 224 days, and those in two areas of London around 220.

Overall the foundation said the data revealed more people were diagnosed with lung cancer and more people died from the disease in the north compared to the south.

The Explaining Variations in Lung Cancer in England report also found significant differences in how lung cancer patients were treated in different parts of the country.

Dr Rosemary Gillespie, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Your chance of surviving lung cancer and receiving a treatment which could benefit you should not be decided by where you live in the country.

“Sadly, it is clear that this is indeed the case and there is significant geographical variation in patient survival and patient access to care and treatment.

“We hope this report will act as a tool to help bring those areas with a poorer service and outcomes up to the standard of the best.”

Last month health bosses in East Lancashire launched a campaign to reduce the number of people who die from lung cancer.

They said it was one of the area’s biggest killers, claiming the lives of 258 people per year. That level is 20 per cent higher than the national average.

Bosses said the number of deaths was linked to deprivation as well as smoking.