4,000 fewer referrals recorded

More than 4,000 fewer patients were referred to East Kent Hospitals for suspected cancer between January and August than in the same period last year.

The figures show a 15% drop in referrals for all types of cancer – and although weekly referrals are now just 2% down on the same period last year, staff are still concerned there are patients who are not coming forward.

More than 1,000 fewer patients were referred for tests for breast cancer, while more than 750 fewer people were seen with suspected skin cancer – drops of 18% and 14% respectively on the year before.

Referrals for gynaecological cancers and head and neck cancer both dropped by 19%, with 461 and 588 fewer patients seen this year. Lung cancer referrals dropped by 7%, or 673 patients.

Sarah Collins, the Trust’s operations director for cancer, said: “Our staff have worked very hard to keep services running for cancer patients throughout the pandemic, and thanks to the support of local independent hospitals we have been able to continue with urgent cancer operations.

“The teams have been supporting patients to encourage them to come for diagnostics and treatments, and help them feel comfortable attending a hospital during the pandemic.

“Although we are now seeing around the same number of referrals as last year, there has not been the increase we would expect to account for those who didn’t come forward during lockdown.

“Our message is clear – if you have symptoms you are concerned about, please speak to your GP. We are all here to help and we have systems in place to make our hospitals as safe as they can be.

“We are only seeing very low numbers of patients with coronavirus, so it’s important people are not put off coming to hospital because they are worried about the infection.”

Almost 1,900 patients had cancer operations at East Kent Hospitals in the first eight months of this year, despite the impact on the trust of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff were able to continue treating people with cancer throughout lockdown, with most operations taking place at local independent hospitals, including the Chaucer.

More complicated procedures were carried out at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, with staff from departments such as orthopaedics redeployed to care for cancer patients.