Virus hit cancer treatment times in Hartlepool

NHS England data shows 85 patients started treatment for cancer at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust in August – 23 fewer than the 108 to do so 12 months previously but still up from the 74 who were seen in June.

Nationally, 20,200 patients started treatment in August – more than 5,500 fewer than 25,800 a year earlier.

Of the patients at North Tees and Hartlepool Trust who started treatment in August, all but four did so within one month of their diagnosis – that 95.3% figure is just short of the NHS target of 96%.

In England, 94.5% started within that timeframe, slightly down from 95.1% in July and 96.1% the previous August.

There had been signs of improvement, with the number starting treatment rising in June and reaching 21,600 in July after a low of 16,700 in May.

Macmillan Cancer Support says the continued disruption to cancer treatment caused by Covid-19 is traumatising patients and fears a second wave threatens further setbacks.

Sara Bainbridge, the charity’s head of policy, said the latest figures were “extremely worrying”.

She said: “Disruption to cancer diagnosis and treatment is having a traumatic impact on cancer patients’ lives.

“There are growing fears that growing fears that rapidly rising Covid-19 rates could have an impact on the recovery of already fragile cancer services.

“Cancer must not become the ‘forgotten C’ during this pandemic. It is critical the Government urgently puts plans and resources in place to increase capacity and protect the NHS from further disruption, as we stare down the barrel of a second wave.”

An NHS spokesman said: “Cancer clinicians worked hard to ensure that, despite the disruption and acute pressures from Covid, around 85% of cancer treatments continued during the pandemic with over 246,000 people receiving treatment and more than 870,000 referred for checks since the start of March.

“Cancer and screening services are open, ready and able to receive patients so anyone who is concerned about a possible cancer symptom should contact their GP and come forward for a check.”