Women forced to wait six months for cancer checks

WOMEN are being forced to wait up to six months for breast cancer checks amid fears the delays may be ‘fatal’ for hundreds.

A backlog means people are facing 23-week waits, the Scottish Government admitted yesterday.

This was blamed on ‘staffing or equipment issues’, as well as an increase in those eligible for tests.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said that while tests are offered one to two weeks ahead of schedule in some areas, others suffer lengthy delays.

His admission comes only months after the Government was forced to apologise to hundreds of women who were denied mammograms following an IT failure.

A total of 1,761 patients were contacted after it emerged they missed an appointment when letters were not sent out due to a blunder – with some last having the tests six years ago.

While these women have now been invited for screening, officials are still working to identify anyone who may have died before receiving the letter.

Mammograms are offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 every three years.

Mr FitzPatrick admitted some women are forced to wait a further six months due to a ‘backlog’ in the system.

It came in response to a parliamentary question from Labour MSP Jackie Baillie.

Mr FitzPatrick said: ‘As of September 2018, the delays range from one to two weeks ahead of schedule to 23 weeks over. Delays can vary from centre to centre.

‘The centres are required to submit a robust action plan detailing the initiatives and timescales to reduce delays.

‘The reasons for delays are multifactorial and may include increases in the eligible population to be invited, changes at GP practice level, staffing or equipment issues and adverse weather events.’

He went on to admit that, given the ‘size and scale’ of the screening programme, with 750,000 invited for tests every three years, ‘delays may occur’.

Miss Baillie said: ‘It is completely unacceptable women in some areas of Scotland are being forced to wait up to 23 weeks beyond their regular three-year visit to be seen for a breast screening.

‘Women diagnosed with breast cancer stand the best chance of surviving if the disease is diagnosed and treated early on. These long waits could be fatal for hundreds of women across Scotland. It is simply unacceptable for this SNP Government to be presiding over such lengthy waiting times.

‘They need to get a grip of the problem now.’

Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘Delays in breast cancer tests can be fatal. That’s why it’s essential this backlog is reduced and women can be screened on time.

‘The SNP’s performance on cancer testing is extremely poor – this latest revelation compounds that even more.’

Campaigners also raised concerns. Breast Cancer Now policy and campaigns manager Ashleigh Simpson said: ‘It’s extremely concerning that some women in Scotland are experiencing significant delays in receiving their screening invitations, at a time when they may be most at risk of breast cancer.

‘These unacceptable delays must be urgently addressed.

‘The earlier breast cancer is detected, the more likely treatment is to be successful.’

‘It is completely unacceptable’