FIRST the bad news: bowel cancer rates in York are higher than the national average.

Now the good news: so are bowel cancer survival rates. In York, almost four fifths of people with the condition are still alive a year after diagnosis, several percentage points better than the average nationally.

This might suggest that in York, we're good both at diagnosing the disease - and at treating it.

Now charity Yorkshire Cancer Research is launching a five-year programme to raise treatment standards still further, by comparing the performance of hospitals and working with them to improve what they do.

The aim, says professor Phil Quirke, is to ensure the highest quality treatment - whether surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy - is available throughout the county, regardless of where you live.

That's the best news of all.