Lung cancer survival rates have improved in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, figures show – but experts fear the impact of the coronavirus pandemic may have already reversed years of progress nationally.

The UK Lung Cancer Coalition has warned that patients with the disease are particularly impacted by "the catastrophe that is Covid-19", due to the similarity of symptoms and increased pressure on respiratory services.

Public Health England data shows between 2014 and 2018, 39.3% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight lived another year.

That was below the national average of 39.4%, but a vast improvement on 28.5% in 2006-10 – the period with the earliest available data.

The figures cover patients aged between 15 and 99 within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) area – a collaboration between local NHS services and councils aimed at improving health care.

Across England, the one-year survival rate varies considerably, from just 34.3% in the Black Country and west Birmingham, to 45.7% in south west London.

In a report, Professor Mick Peake, chairman of the UKLCC's clinical advisory group, said "fear of engaging with health services, halting the national programme of lung cancer screening pilots, and restricted access to diagnostic tests" have contributed to a drop in urgent GP referrals in England.

"Government guidance to stay at home with a cough, a key symptom of lung cancer, has caused further confusion," he added.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with low survival rates compared to other cancer types.

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the one-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 97.2%, and 96.7% for breast cancer.

Dr Jodie Moffat, head of early diagnosis at charity Cancer Research UK, said "there is still a long way to go" in improving lung cancer survival rates, despite good progress.

She added: "We’re extremely concerned that Covid-19 will negatively affect cancer outcomes because of delays in diagnosis and treatment."

An NHS spokeswoman said an improvement in survival rates over the past decade reflected "the hard work of NHS staff in detecting more cancers at an earlier stage".

“While some people put off seeking care at the peak of the pandemic, our services are open and safe to use," she said.