Concerns grow over diagnosis being too late

‘WORRYING’ signs are being seen in emergency cancer diagnosis charts in Barnsley – just months after promises were made by health bosses to ease a ‘never-before-seen’ backlog.

NHS Digital figures show 342 people first presented as having cancer in the Barnsley area between October and December last year – of them, 83 were deemed to be an emergency.

An ‘emergency presentation’ is when a diagnosis is given within 30 days of a hospital admission and does not include more managed routes, such as cancer screening or through a GP.

This, according to charity Cancer Research UK, is a worry as emergency diagnoses could mean the disease is an a more advanced stage.

Pancreatic cancer had the highest percentage in October to December, at 57 per cent, followed by acute myeloid leukaemia and central nervous system tumours.

Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy at the charity, said: “This is worrying because cancers diagnosed following an emergency presentation are more likely to be at a later stage.

“That means fewer treatment options are available – clearly, there’s more work that must be done.

“Cancer must be a priority for the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.”

An NHS report into local diagnostic rates put the blame on waves of Covid-19 impacting services.

It added: “We have a history of good performance for our registered population and in previous years have reported these targets have been met or nearly met.

“The NHS has seen another incredibly challenging year however, impacted on by the pandemic.

“We have seen some targets met with the number people receiving anti-cancer drugs, or radiotherapy, within 31 days of a diagnosis being above target.

“The reasons some targets were met, and some were not, are many and have varied throughout the year as each wave has emerged, peaked and passed.

“It is important to note that the NHS operated under the highest level of emergency control for much of the year.

“This dictated that many of the services needed to be prioritised, such as treatment for Covid-19 along with tests for cancer and any subsequent treatment, with many non-urgent and routine health care needs assessed and in some cases treatments deferred.

“Where the targets have not been met and people may have waited longer for treatment, everything possible has been done to make sure ensure patient safety.

“Those with the most urgent need have continued to receive the treatment and care that they need.”

However, the Department of Health and Social Care said it is ‘improving outcomes for cancer patients’ by reducing waiting times and addressing the Covid-induced backlog.

One way they are doing that, a spokesperson told the Chronicle, is to roll out more community diagnostic centres across the country in order to see people.

The move – which came about due to a review into the NHS’s cancer treatment services by Sir Mike Richards – resulted in the opening of a £3m facility in Barnsley town centre’s Glass Works development.

Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for transformation for NHS England, said: “These diagnostic centres are at the focal point of communities, closer to people’s homes, and are essential to diagnose a range of conditions quicker.

“We will continue to establish innovative ways of working for the future to help us tackle the backlog and offer patients better access to healthcare.”