WE'RE alarmed by the news that one in 10 women in Worcestershire with suspected breast cancer are waiting longer than the official two-week limit before vital hospital examinations.

Two weeks might not seem a lot to most of us, and it isn't going to mean the difference between life or death. But it does nothing for the patient's state of mind. Such targets, after all, don't exist for fun.

Although our concern for the health of the NHS goes much deeper, at present, than the disagreement between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor over how improvements are to be funded, our confidence is hardly lifted by it.

It's symbolic of a government which hasn't yet been able to turn election promises into action which has the tangible and beneficial effect on people's lives we all crave.

Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust's attempt to reassure patients about breast cancer waiting times prompts the same reaction, sorry to say.

We've no doubt that problems of sickness and GP referrals have had a bad impact on targets during the past year.

But we're still mindful that 4.2 per cent fewer women were seen within two weeks during the year before that.

For too long, patients in the county have been expected to swallow the "jam tomorrow" promises of health officials.

That's not meant to undervalue the hundreds of people who make the health service function as well as it does.

It's just that, using today's figures as an example, we won't be reassured, satisfied or understanding until the figure's back at 100 per cent.