Figures show delays on breast cancer referrals
Hundreds of patients with suspected breast cancer were not seen on time at hospital trusts in the Black Country and Staffordshire according to the latest figures.
Charity Breast Cancer Now said the “frightening consequence” of such vital targets being missed across England was that more women could be living with the disease without knowing.
NHS England data shows 161 patients with suspected breast cancer were referred by GPs for urgent investigations at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in December. But just eight were seen within the recommended two-week window.
Meanwhile 197 patients were referred for urgent investigations at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust in that month. But just 45 – around 23 per cent – were seen within the recommended window.
At the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, 285 patients were referred – but just 160, around 56 per cent, were seen in the recommended two weeks.
The data shows 224 patients were referred for urgent investigations at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust in December. A total of 174 – 78 per cent – were seen in the recommended two week window.
And at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust, 607 patients were referred – and 572, around 94 per cent, were seen by a consultant within the two-week window.
Diane Wake, chief executive at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is important that patients referred by a consultant are seen as quickly as possible and within the time that they, and we, expect.
“Like hospital trusts across the country our services have been affected by Covid but our referrals are returning to pre-pandemic levels even though we now have to allow additional time to allow for Covid safety measures.
“The cancer management team has been working hard to ensure we fully recover services as quickly as possible.”
Priority
Paul Bytheway, chief operating officer at UHNM, said: “Despite the Covid-19 pandemic University Hospitals of North Midlands have continued to maintain performance and exceed national NHS targets for breast cancer care.
"Our number one priority has always been to ensure that all those who need urgent care, including urgent cancer care get it when they need it.”
A spokesman for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “Throughout the pandemic we have continued to provide appointments and operations.
"However, the numbers have been impacted by both the need to redeploy staff to care for patients in our intensive care unit.
“This has resulted in some appointments, tests and operations being postponed. The trust is working to restore these services as soon as possible.”
Breast Cancer Now said the figures were “deeply worrying” and encouraged women to contact their GP if they find unusual breast changes.
