Warning over transport risk to patients in cancer battle
THOUSANDS of cancer patients could be forced to rely on public transport to access life-saving treatment during the pandemic.
It has fuelled fears vulnerable people may avoid vital medical help to protect themselves against the threat of Covid-19.
Patients with cancer are considered to be among those most susceptible to the virus as their body’s ability to fight infections is lowered. Charities warn that while reopening vital NHS services should be a top priority, this would not be enough to get all patients back into treatment.
In Scotland, tens of thousands of such patients travel by public transport. But there is concern over a heightened risk of the spread of Covid-19 in confined spaces, such as buses and trains, as Nicola Sturgeon looks to ease lockdown restrictions.
The First Minister has insisted restarting services within the NHS remains one of her top priorities after it was revealed people were avoiding the health system during lockdown.
But she faces calls to ensure measures are put in place to ensure those receiving cancer treatment are not forced to rely on public transport.
As well as looking at new patient transport services, charities have urged medics to consider other treatments such as chemotherapy tablets, which can be taken at home.
Kate Seymour, head of policy for cancer charity Macmillan, said: ‘There’s already real concern about cancer patients turning down treatment because of fears around Covid-19 – we don’t want travelling to the hospital to be part of that.’
The Scottish Daily Mail previously revealed cancer patients may have to travel more than 300 miles away for treatment due to lack of local services.
Concerns have been raised that not all of those people will have access to a car and, with social distancing rules in place, cannot rely on family or friends from other households. Scottish
Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs has written to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman urging her to look into developing new NHS transport services.
He proposed the NHS uses taxi services so patients could travel by themselves without having to foot the cost.
Mr Briggs said: ‘I believe steps need to be taken to see innovative solutions developed.’
Marion O’Neill, of Cancer Research UK, said: ‘It may be some people receiving chemotherapy can have their treatment modified to extend the time between appointments, or switched to oral medicines which can safely be administered at home. When a patient needs to go to hospital, we would urge the health board to routinely consider whether the visit is absolutely necessary and, if it is, support the patient to find a way of travelling as safely as possible.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘All NHS boards have been asked to consider transport requirements as part of their recovery plans.
‘They are working with the Scottish Ambulance Service and local transport providers to understand the likely demand and how that might be met to ensure all patients can travel to appointments as safely as possible.’