Coventry Telegraph

Patients waiting too long for ‘urgent’ cancer treatment at UHCW

HOSPITAL HAS STRUGGLED TO RESTORE SERVICES SINCE COVID PANDEMIC

- By DAVID DUBAS-FISHER & JASPREET KAUR

CANCER patients are still waiting too long for ‘urgent’ treatment at University Hospital Coventry, as the NHS struggles to restore pre-covid services.

Many people remain on waiting lists which has led to their conditions worsening.

A top employee at charity Cancer Research UK described the waiting times as ‘unacceptab­le.’ Naser Turabi said the disease only takes weeks to progress leaving patients at risk. She called on the Government to take action and transform cancer services from ‘world-lagging to world-leading.’

In August 2022, only 57.2 per cent of patients at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshi­re NHS

Trust began their treatment within two months of being referred to the hospital by their GP, according to figures from NHS England. Targets say that trusts should aim to see 85 per cent of patients within 62 days between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of treatment.

Back in March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, 82.4% of referrals at the trust were seen within 62 days. Although that was still short of the target, it was far closer to the

The sad truth is that long waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment have become the norm - this is unacceptab­le Naser Turabi, Cancer Research UK

stark shortfall in recent months. South Warwickshi­re NHS Foundation Trust saw 59 per cent of patients within 62 days of referral as of August 2022, down from 73.2 per cent in March 2020. While George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust saw 71.3 per cent of patients within 62 days in August, which was actually up from 66.7 per cent in March 2020.

Naser Turabi, Director of Evidence and Implementa­tion at Cancer Research UK said: “NHS staff have never worked harder, and yet cancer waiting time targets continue to be missed. The sad truth is that long waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment have become the norm - this is unacceptab­le.

“A matter of weeks is enough for the disease to progress, which is why reducing waiting times for cancer patients needs to be a top priority for the new prime minister. Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet must publish the 10-Year Cancer Plan that his predecesso­rs committed to. It needs to set out fully-costed plans to prevent more cancers, diagnose them early and treat them quickly, with an ambition to transform cancer services in the UK from world-lagging to worldleadi­ng.”

Ms Turabi added: “In the meantime, it’s important to remember that it’s better to be on a waiting list than to sit at home with symptoms. Listen to your body - if you sense something isn’t right, see your GP and persevere to get an appointmen­t. Your doctor wants to hear from you.”

 ?? ?? Only 57.2 per cent of patients at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshi­re NHS Trust began their treatment within two months of being referred by their GP
Only 57.2 per cent of patients at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshi­re NHS Trust began their treatment within two months of being referred by their GP

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