Crisis in cancer patient waiting list could dwarf virus death toll

WAITING times for cancer diagnosis have grown ‘exponentially’ since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, officials from the Irish Cancer Society are expected to tell the Oireachtas coronavirus committee today.

The charity will say that while 212 Covid-related deaths in cancer patients have been recorded to date, the secondary impact on cancer mortality is still to be measured.

Its submission says that, as of June 19, some 2,627 people were waiting for an urgent colonoscopy. Of these people, 1,004 were waiting longer than 28 days, and 329 have been waiting longer than 90 days.

It said that urgent colonoscopies, which can identify cancer, are highest priority – with another 16,000 nonurgent cases. ‘Despite being

Delays in urgent treatment

classified as non-urgent, this includes people with symptoms and some will ultimately face a cancer diagnosis,’ the charity warns.

While there are delays in urgent treatment for cancer victims, waiting times for elective procedures have also grown, ‘given that elective procedures were paused at the beginning of public health emergency response’, the statement reads.

The inpatient-day case waiting lists have risen by over 29% on pre-Covid figures to 87,238 people, it adds.

Early indications from other countries suggest a significant decrease in cancer survival as a result of Covid-19, which would dwarf the number of deaths caused by the virus.

‘The Irish Cancer Society does not believe that this is inevitable, however. While the pandemic thrust a cruel psychological, social and economic burden upon vulnerable patients, further anguish can be prevented,’ it said.

The charity will ask the Government to address the reduction of capacity due to social distancing by making immediate investment in temporary buildings while committing to investment in oncology day wards, operating theatres, community diagnostics, elective-only hospitals and a comprehensive cancer centre. It will also call for psychological help for cancer patients.

In its submission, the State’s National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) says that the pandemic had ‘an immediate and significant impact’ on the work of the NTPF and on waiting lists.

The impact of the pandemic has seen the number waiting for an appointment for surgery and procedures increase by 17,518 (26%), the number waiting for outpatient consultations increase by 25,845 (5%) and the number waiting for Gastro-Intestinal Scopes rise by 13,173 (58%).

‘In the first three months of 2020, the NTPF arranged surgery, procedures and scopes for more than 9,000 patients and arranged outpatient consultations for 8,500 patients.

‘While this treatment began to recommence in May, it is in a much changed environment with inevitable limitations,’ its submission says.