Almost half of cancer patients made repeat visits to the GP

MORE than 40 per cent of cancer patients saw their GP at least twice before being referred for tests that led to them being diagnosed, latest NHS figures show.

An NHS patient experience survey, completed by 73,817 people with cancer, found thousands had to make repeat visits to family doctors before eventually being sent for tests.

Of 51,973 people who saw their GP with symptoms, 15 per cent had to go back three or four times before they were eventually referred to hospital for further investigation.

Almost one in 10 (8 per cent) saw their GP five or more times while 20 per cent went to their GP twice. Overall, 43 per cent of people who saw a GP with symptoms had to go at least twice before being referred for tests.

The survey, carried out on behalf of NHS England, found that while most people rate their overall experience of NHS cancer care highly, some areas performed significantly worse in 2018 than in 2017.

Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “The NHS Long Term Plan will ensure that even more people receive earlier cancer checks alongside the best possible care and lifesaving new treatments.”

Dr Richard Roope, clinical lead for cancer at the Royal College of GPS, said: “It is notoriously difficult to diagnose many cancers in primary care, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Often there are either no symptoms or they might be vague and indicative of other, more common conditions.

“GPS also need to be mindful of pressures on secondary care, and often get criticism for over-referral, as well as not referring enough.”