Hospitals in north west London are the fifth worst in the country for the experience of cancer patients, according to a charity’s analysis.

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes Northwick Park Hospital and St Mark's Hospital in Watford Road, came fifth from bottom in a table produced by charity Macmillian Cancer Support which measured patients’ responses to a survey after treatment.

Nine out the bottom ten trusts were in London, with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust rated the worst, while most of the top performing trusts were in the north of England.

The charity’s chief executive, Ciarán Devane, accused hospitals of “letting down” cancer patients by “failing to provide an adequate level of care”.

He said: “Patient experience and non-clinical needs must be given as much priority as medical activities.

“Patient experience is one of the Government’s five key measures for success in the NHS, so Trusts need to take heed and work with Macmillan and others to urgently improve the care they offer cancer patients.”

The league table compares the performance of hospitals across England based on measures of patients’ experiences while being treated at hospital, such as whether their diagnosis and treatment options were explained clearly to them, whether they felt supported in their care, and whether they felt they were treated with respect.

The research also reveals that breast cancer patients in England have the best patient experience, while sarcoma patients continue to have the poorest.

In a statement, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust said it was “very disappointed” with the results of the survey.

It added: “We take the feedback very seriously and, following the poor results, we have set up a task group which is reviewing patient experience.

“The group will look at improving all aspects of care, including contact with surgeons and consultants, the information we give to patients, explanations of tests and procedures, experiences of staying on a ward and appointments.”

The league table is based on the Department of Health's National Cancer Patient Experience Survey for 2011, and suggests experience has got worse since the year before, when the trust did not appear in a list of the worst-performing.

Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas said the results were “worrying” and called on the Government to intervene and address problems and concerns that patients have.