Viewers’ fury as TV doc tells Kelly’s story
VIEWERS have reacted with anger after the airing of a documentary which details the delays in medical treatments that took place during the Covid lockdown.
Kelly Smith, 31, from Macclesfield, died from bowel cancer last month and featured in the BBC Panorama programme on Monday.
The young mum had undergone chemotherapy, which she believed had been working, but her treatment was delayed at the beginning of the lockdown.
And in the weeks before her death she spoke to the Panorama programme about her fears that her cancer had spread too far.
During the documentary, clinical oncologist Professor Pat Rice tells Deborah that in some hospitals radiotherapy machines were ‘lying idle which could have saved lives’.
Urgent referrals for cancer care have dropped and treatments have been delayed or cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The programme also revealed a major backlog for screenings resulting in delayed diagnoses.
Some viewers took to Twitter to air their views on the Panorama findings.
MJTobin #stayHome wrote: “Just watched #Panorama. They were talking about Cancer treatment, or should I say lack of it during the covid-19 pandemic. People are dying because their not getting diagnosed and or treatment. They spoke of @kickasskell who sadly died of bowel cancer aged THIRTY ONE. so sad”
While Annette (Annie) Biker called for “the disparity” to stop.
“USE those empty machines, HELP PATIENTS!!” she wrote.
Commenting on another patient featured on the show, @ ChrisGoGodfrey wrote: “#Panorama programme on Britain’s cancer crisis created by covid lockdown. Scandalous! “This poor lady’s family are desperate to give Mum one chance at life & having to fund treatment privately. Any amount may well help.”
While Cass Blakeman commented: “Tonight’s #Panorama is every bit as distressing as you’d imagine. And more; Kelly’s story is heartbreaking; she died at only 31yo”
And Dr Fiona Scott tweeted: “Heartbroken and angry for fellow cancer patients watching #Panorama this evening. It’s such a postcode lottery.
“I was lucky to be able to have my regular check up during lockdown. Meanwhile, 1,000s of diagnoses potentially missed and many treatment programmes slowed down.”