WE NEED TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT BACK ON OTHER ILLNESSES

New research has suggested that delays to cancer diagnosis and treatment due to Covid-19 could cause 35,000 extra deaths. So much focus has been placed on coronavirus and the number of deaths, which sadly means we are going to see big increases in people dying from things like cancer. These illnesses are going to present late because people have delayed going to the hospital or GP, or their investigations, scans and treatments have been delayed. I expect we might also see a rise in suicide and mental health problems, which is really worrying. Some have argued that over a number of years there will be more deaths from other conditions as a result of the pandemic than there will be from the virus itself. It’s so important that if you have any new symptoms, you contact your GP. The practices are open, particularly for phone consultations, so don’t delay.