‘Large number’ of patients put off cancer treatment
‘Large numbers of patients’ in Sunderland could be delaying life-saving treatments due to Covid fears, NHS chiefs have warned.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, doctors have urged the public to be aware of their general health, as well astheirriskofcontractingthe virus.
But the latest figures suggest many may not have heeded the message, with referrals for conditions such as lung and breast cancer remaining low.
“Cancer performance remains challenging, it remains challenging across the country, it remains challenging across the region, it remains challenging in Sunderland,” said David Chandler, chief finance officer at Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
“We’re still conscious that large numbers of patients are potentially choosing to delay their treatment due to Covid concerns and we do our utmost to encourage people not to do that.
“Our 10-week-wait cancer targetremainsvolatileandwe do have pressures in certain areas, but we have got action plans in place.”
Chandler was speaking at Wednesday meeting of Sunderland City Council’s (SCC) Health and Wellbeing ScrutinyCommittee,whichwasheld byvideolinkandbroadcastvia YouTube.
According to a presentationforcouncillors,cancerreferralsfromGPsremainlower than they were over the same
period in 2019/20.
However, NHS chiefs have alsoadmittedworkforcepressurescausedbythepandemic have also played a part, particularly in services such as radiology.
But Wearside is also performingbetterthantheNorth Eastaverageforreferralsfrom family doctors to specialist care.
Peter Sutton, executive director of planning and business development at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHSFoundationTrust,which
runs Sunderland Royal Hospital, told the panel he hoped measures such as sending patients to private hospitals would help to reduce waiting listsforsomeservices,suchas diagnostics, quickly.
Chandler added: “We would encourage anybody and everybody, if you have concerns, if you’re a member of the public and you think [you’re] displaying cancertype symptoms and you’re paranoid about that, I would strongly advise you to see a GP.”