Over 130,000 patients a year are not receiving vital NHS cancer care on time

[Northerner]

More than 130,000 patients a year are not receiving vital NHS cancer care on time because hospitals are struggling to look after the growing number of people suspected of having the disease.

Doctors are warning that a widespread and growing failure to meet waiting time targets was causing huge anxiety for patients affected and may even be harming their chances of survival.

A total of 132,138 patients in England last year did not see a cancer specialist within the required 14 days or start treatment such as surgery or radiotherapy within the supposed maximum 31 after diagnosis, or 62 days after initial consultation and tests, according to an analysis of NHS-wide performance data conducted by Cancer Research UK.

Delays in some hospitals were so severe that more than 6,000 patients who should have had their first treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred by their GP last year were forced to wait for 104 days or more, the figures collected by hospitals show.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...e-not-receiving-vital-nhs-cancer-care-on-time

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[mikeyB]

Yup, this delay has been increasing steadily under the Tory governments care of the NHS. It's no great surprise. We have the worst cancer survival rates in the civilised world.

And as we know, PotterSusan is experiencing the sharp end of this increasingly shambolic system. What has Jeremy Hunt got to say about this?

 

[Northerner]

What has Jeremy Hunt got to say about this?

Government's stock answer is that they are giving the NHS the money it asked for. They conned Simon Stevens good and proper when they got him to set out that plan, and they beat him with that stick whatever the issue