WARRINGTON has the highest rate of prostate cancer deaths in the north west.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that death rates in Warrington for prostate cancer were 33 per cent above the average in England.

NHS Warrington has the sixth highest mortality rate among the country’s 152 Primary Care Trusts with an average of 32 deaths per 100,000 people each year.

North west PCTs with the lowest mortality rates included Trafford, Manchester and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, which were all 25 per cent below the national average.

In the north west there are 9,000 men who are living with prostate cancer and nationally one man dies every hour from the disease.

Sixteen of England’s PCTs have prostate cancer death rates above the average rate of 24 deaths per 100,000 of the population in 2008.

Death rates from the disease were notably higher than average at one in 10 PCTs.

John Neate, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “By ensuring every man has the opportunity to make an informed choice about having a PSA test which can give early indication of possible prostate cancer, and can then access a range of effective treatment options, we hope that many more men will survive.”

A spokesman for NHS Warrington said: “NHS Warrington takes tackling all types of cancer very seriously.

“As an organisation we have significant input into the commissioning of cancer programmes and screening services which aim to reduce ill health and mortality.

“We have a cancer action team to ensure that cancer services to patients in Warrington are planned, delivered and maintained.

“Our mobile cancer information and support vehicle regularly stops in locations around Warrington.

“On board our nurses provide advice and information on prostate cancer, cancer screening and health awareness.”