Health chiefs in the West of Scotland say they have made "significant strides" in treating cancer patients.

They claim cancer waiting times are decreasing in all hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

But with more than 10,000 new cancer patients treated every year from across the West of Scotland bosses admit it will remain a challenge in the coming months.

And waiting times at accident and emergency departments have also been slashed, with most patients dealt with within four hours.

The figures were released on the day the Scottish Executive announced that waiting times have gone down throughout the country.

A spokesman for Greater Glasgow and Clyde said cancer figures had improved in the third quarter of 2006.

"We are confident from the work in our cancer improvement action plan that the next set of figures will show us moving towards 90% compliance," he said.

The biggest improvements, he said, are being made in the treatment of lung, breast, head and neck cancers.

Work is continuing to improve performance in urology, skin and other cancers.

Tom Divers, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chief Executive, said: "Tackling cancer waiting times will continue to be a challenge for 2007.

"The challenges of achieving ever-better waiting time targets has been enormous but we continue to build up capacity to ensure we continue to meet our targets."

Accident and emergency departments in the area treated 106,000 patients during October, November and December.

Of these, 92% were seen, treated and either admitted or discharged within four hours against a target figure of 95%.

A spokesman said: "We are continuing to improve the way we manage our A&E departments to meet the 95% guarantee.

"This includes fast-tracking certain patient groups though our departments."