Leading oncologist warns of cancer catastrophe as BBC Newsnight analysis shows the number of trusts meeting crucial cancer treatment targets has collapsed from 1 in 2 to less than 1 in 10 Trusts
Leading oncologist, Professor Pat Price of #CatchUpWithCancer, reacts to cancer analysis set to feature on BBC Newsnight that will reveal the number of trusts meeting vital treatment waiting times targets has crashed to catastrophic levels, falling from 1 in 2 to less than 1 in 10.
Professor Pat Price is set to appear on the programme and warns the data shows the worst-ever cancer treatment crisis and calls on the Government to urgently intervene.
Professor Pat Price said:
“Our joint analysis with Newsnight shows a frightening cancer crisis that will be ultimately and tragically be measured in avoidable cancer deaths. In just 7 years, the number of trusts meeting life-saving cancer treatment targets has plummeted from 1 in 2 to less than 1 in 10, highlighting the whole cancer service is on its knees. While we welcome the increased number of cancer patients being referred, cancer services are struggling to cope due to a failure to increase treatment capacity and this situation is set to continue if no action is taken. A workforce survey for the vital treatment services, radiotherapy, published today reports that 71% of respondents have seen more patients with advanced disease and there is not enough workforce, treatment machines or IT technology to meet future treatment needs. It seems like no one from Government is listening. Frustratingly, it feels like NHS leaders are hiding behind the welcome increase in diagnosis figures, while not facing up to the reality that the time it is taking to treat these patients is the worst since records began with the percentage of cancer patients missing the 62-day target now at 39%. Over 17,000 patients have missed the 62-day target and an astonishing 5468 patients are not being treated within 104 days.
“If these record-long waiting times, surveys of frontline staff and urgent warnings from parliamentarians don’t serve as the canary in the coalmine I don’t know what will. There is a real possibility that the crisis will escalate even more if the long-awaited new National Cancer Plan doesn’t include investment in cancer treatment services like radiotherapy. We went into Covid with the worse cancer survivals, we need a radical rethink as to how to get the country back near the top of the survival league tables. If we don’t, more cancer patients will die unnecessarily. We urge the secretary of state to urgently meet with us ”
