17,000 cancer sufferers die each year because of slow diagnosis

MORE than 17,000 Britons needlessly die of cancer each year because it is not picked up quickly enough, experts have warned.

Delays in diagnosis means the UK lags behind the rest of Europe on cancer survival rates, with no sign the gap is closing.

Millions more people need to be sent for testing if Britain is to catch up, according to a major report on NHS cancer policies.

Yet GPs are being pressured to become ‘gatekeepers’ and reduce scan referrals.

Report author Sir Mike Richards, Britain’s former national cancer director, said thousands of deaths could be avoided if the system was improved.

‘This is the equivalent to a jumbo jet of people falling from the sky every two weeks,’ he said, referring to Office for National Statistics figures which showed 17,375 people died every year from ‘treatable’ cancers between 2014 and 201 .

The report, published by the Health Foundation, said quick diagnosis is key. Sir Mike said many more patients need to be tested. At the moment 8 per cent of the 2million people sent for hospital testing each year are diagnosed with cancer.

But NICE guidelines suggest GPs should send anyone with a 3 per cent chance for testing – meaning more than twice as many should be tested.

In reality, Sir Mike said, cash-strapped hospitals often reject GPs’ referrals. ‘The gate is shut too tight.’

An NHS England spokesman said: ‘Further work to ensure earlier diagnosis and treatment is under way.’

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