A third of cancer drugs approved by the Government are not getting to patients in Sussex.

A report says five out of the 16 drugs recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) are not being used enough.

The report, published by the Government's cancer tsar Mike Richards, said there was still a postcode lottery, with some areas of England prescribed more types of drugs than others.

The worst performing area was south Essex, which under-prescribed 12 of the recommended drugs while patients in parts of London and Norfolk had access to all 16.

Professor Richards blamed a shortage of staff, premises and adequate planning for the problem.

Health trusts are under instructions to make new drugs available within three months of Nice approval.

However, many of them have been accused by drug companies and cancer charities of ignoring its recommendations.

The Government is to speed up its plan to introduce electronic hospital prescribing so it can keep a closer watch on what is or is not being given to patients.

A Sussex Cancer Network spokesman said: "Our clinicians are free to prescribe any of the Nice recommended drugs and the majority of the ones examined in this study are prescribed in Sussex.

"Some have not been prescribed but that is because clinicians have decided not to. They are not restricted in any way."