Analysis reveals suspected cancer patients face up to two year wait for diagnosis

New figures reveal that patients suspected of having cancer face a wait of up to two years for a diagnosis and a year to commence treatment.

Charities warn the ‘unacceptable’ delays could give tumours time to spread, make treatment more expenses and significantly reduce survival chances.

Current guidance states that patients should be offered a first specialist appointment within two weeks of an urgent referral by a GP, should be given a diagnosis or all-clear within one month of the referral and start treatment within two months.

However, the new data released under Freedom of Information laws shows that of January this year, patients had been waiting up to 24 times longer than they should have to be seen.

The figures reveal the longest a patient had been kept waiting to see a specialist following an urgent GP referral was 171 days.  Patients had been waiting up to nine months for a scan or test and up to two years for a diagnosis or all-clear.

Michelle Mitchell Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said “Cancer patients in England are facing unacceptable delays for vital treatment, which demonstrates the need for urgent political leadership and action on cancer in England.

“Years of under-funding has resulted in an overstretched cancer workforce unable to meet rising demand.

“We urge the Government to deliver a fully-costed workforce plan for England that increases the number of clinicians being trained and tackles staff retention.

“Only then will people affected by cancer receive the care they desperately need and deserve.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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