New research by the BBC highlights the continuing crisis in cancer patient care within the NHS.
Current government guidelines regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer are as follows:
• Patients should receive their first treatment within 62 days following an urgent referral for suspected cancer
• Patients should receive their first treatment within 31 days (one month) of a diagnosis of cancer
• If an urgent referral is made due to concerns about suspected cancer, the patient should be seen by a specialist within two weeks
NHS Trusts should aim to achieve the above targets with 85% of their patients but, according to the BBC, over 70% of cancer services in England failed to achieve the 62-day target during 2018-2019.
This figure reflected excessive delays for more than 30,000 cancer patients.
Delays in diagnosis, referral and the commencement of treatment are often associated with increasing demand combined with staff shortages.
Inevitably, such delays are also likely to impact on the long-term physical and emotional health of the patients affected.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are suffering the long-term impact of a significant failing in medical care, contact Glynns Solicitors to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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