Known as PHESGO, it is a combined treatment which is injected. It takes as little as five minutes to prepare and administer – compared with two infusions that can take up to two and a half hours.

The injection will be offered to eligible patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for 15 per cent of all breast cancers.

It can be given alongside chemotherapy or on its own. The five-minute jab significantly cuts the Covid infection risk for cancer patients, NHS England says, because it reduces the amount of time spent in hospital. It also frees up time for clinicians in chemotherapy units.

NHS national clinical director for cancer, Peter Johnson, said: “This new injection, which can substantially cut treatment time for people with breast cancer, is the latest in a series of changes which have meant the NHS has been able to deliver vital cancer treatment while keeping patients safe from Covid.

“I am delighted that this is now available to people having breast cancer treatment, limiting the time they need to spend in hospital and giving the NHS another way to continue treating as many cancer patients as possible.”