The effect of Covid-19 on cancer patients was exposed yesterday – with waiting times at crisis point.
Although there were fewer people than normal referred for tests and treatment in the month ending June 30, the NHS’s ability to cope – even with the drop in numbers – worsened sharply.
In particular, waiting times for diagnostics tests concerned politicians and cancer charities.
Almost two-thirds of patients had to wait longer than the six-week maximum time for a diagnostic check such as an endoscopy, which is vital for detecting several kinds of cancer.
Kate Seymour, of cancer support charity Macmillan, said: “While not all those waiting for tests will have suspected cancer, many will.
"The pandemic has been extremely challenging for the NHS but people with cancer can’t be expected to pay the price.”
Marion O’Neill, of Cancer Research UK, said: “Tackling the backlog of those waiting for tests will require more workforce, more equipment and the adoption of other innovations that release capacity into the system.”
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “With thousands of people waiting for key tests and languishing for months without treatment, it is vital a plan to fully kickstart and support our NHS is implemented. Delays are putting patients at risk.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the government had been making “significant progress” with the £850million waiting times improvement plan but that progress had been affected by measures needed to respond to Covid-19.
She said: “The ongoing need for additional infection prevention and control measures means each clinic or theatre session will see fewer patients.
"However, those patients who require urgent, elective and vital cancer treatment have been, and will continue to be, prioritised.”
