Delays caused by virus a very real threat to cancer outcomes
DELAYS in diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients due to the coronavirus pandemic are “a major threat to the NHS in Wales”, cancer charities have warned.
Latest figures from the Welsh Government show 20,000 fewer people entered the single cancer pathway (SCP) between March and June this year than would have been expected.
While 9,912 people entered the pathway in June, it remains well below the average of 13,208 who joined on a monthly basis between June 2019 and February 2020.
Judi Rhys, Tenovus Cancer Care chief executive, said: “Thankfully not everyone who enters the single cancer pathway goes on to be diagnosed with cancer, but sadly many people will.
“With 20,000 people ‘missing’ from the SCP due to the coronavirus crisis, there could be thousands of people whose cancer may be diagnosed at a later stage or not at all, and the later a person is diagnosed with cancer, the worse their chances of survival.
“Cancer services in Wales were struggling to meet the demand before the coronavirus pandemic. Over the coming months and years the NHS in Wales is facing the ticking time bomb of increased demand because of a backlog of patients and decreased capacity, due to staffing levels and appointments taking longer.
“It is going to need a bold and decisive plan to clear the backlog of screening and treatment.
“Tenovus Cancer Care wants to see more use of rapid diagnostic centres (RDCs) and we have state-ofthe-art mobile support units which could be deployed as RDCs in communities across Wales to help address capacity issues.
“We will continue to raise this important issue on behalf of cancer patients.”
At the height of the pandemic in April, the data shows a dramatic drop in referrals to just 4,913, a 63% reduction in the average number of people typically seen.
Launched in 2019, the single cancer pathway means the waiting times clock starts to tick from the point at which a person is suspected of having cancer, usually by their GP, rather than when a referral is received.
Wales is the only country in the UK to measure cancer waiting times in this way, and the new system was launched to help make sure that people receive cancer treatment as early as possible.
Similarly, cancer charity Macmillan is raising grave concerns over the “very real danger” that people will now be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage, with more complicated cancers to treat as a result.
Richard Pugh, head of partnerships for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: “The data released does show signs of recovery – we have moved from a 63% reduction in referrals at the height of the pandemic through to 47% in May and now to a 25% reduction in referrals in June. We must credit the NHS as they work hard to steer us back in the right direction.
“But we are not where we need to be, and we have grave concerns for the future.
“Every reduction in referrals means there will be a growing and hidden number of people in Wales who could be living with undiagnosed and untreated cancer after not contacting their GP during this pandemic.
“This raises concerns not only about the impact this will have on the outcomes that can be achieved for these people, but also about how well our care services will be able to cope, especially as many of them may have more advanced cancer because they have received a late diagnosis.
“Against this backdrop, Macmillan is calling on anyone who has a new and unusual symptom to contact their GP as soon as they can – whether it is a cough, unexplained bleeding or a worrying lump, please contact your GP as they are still here to help you.
“We also need to see a published national recovery plan for cancer services in Wales which will ease pressure on the NHS, and ensure the thousands of people now caught up this growing backlog can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.”
Mr Pugh added: “Coronavirus will be here for some time to come, and as we continue to collectively adapt to its challenges it is vital that cancer treatment and care is prioritised, which is why cancer waiting times targets should also be reintroduced with some urgency.”