House of Commons · Westminster Hall
02 December 2020 · 8 other contributors · 13,793 words
Opened by Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Responding minister: Not recorded
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Tim Farron raised concerns about covid-19: access to cancer diagnosis and treatment in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Mr. Farron requests the Minister to meet him and expert clinicians in the next few days to address the cancer backlog and to urgently boost cancer services to catch up with the crisis.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Mr. Tim Farron is concerned about the national cancer crisis caused by the pandemic, with a backlog that needs urgent attention. He points out that around 1,000 fewer people in south Cumbria and Lancashire received their first cancer treatment compared to the same period last year, indicating a 17% drop. The clinical evidence suggests that more patients are now presenting with advanced cancers due to delayed diagnosis and treatment, leading to unnecessary deaths.
Mr. Alex Norris discussed the backlog of cancer patients, estimating it to be around 100,000 and requiring two years at increased capacity to address. He highlighted missed screenings and referrals due to the pandemic, emphasizing the need for robust plans, resourcing, new treatments, and workforce development. Mr. Norris also asked the Minister to publish a cancer recovery plan with more detail on its progress and scope.
Mr Carter thanked those working in oncology for maintaining cancer care services during the pandemic. He highlighted a constituent's experience with breast cancer and praised the NHS for its support. He mentioned that 170 patients were treated for covid at Warrington hospital, operating at about 80% of normal service capacity. Macmillan estimates there are currently 50,000 missing diagnoses in the UK, with a potential backlog reaching over 100,000 by October next year if referrals and screenings do not return to pre-pandemic levels. He welcomed £3 billion funding for NHS recovery but stressed the need to tackle backlogs.
The speaker expressed concern about the reconfiguration of national health services during the pandemic, which led to a cancer backlog. He cited Action Radiotherapy's suggestion that there have been 100,000 missed diagnoses and Macmillan's concern over 50,000 missed diagnoses due to a 72% drop in cancer referrals. The speaker highlighted challenges such as staffing shortages for specialist consultants and the impact of Brexit on recruiting from EU countries.
He highlighted the need to quantify the scale of the backlog in cancer treatment and asked about the release of datasets to accurately measure the ratio between treatable cancers and palliative care, which was previously 70:30 but is now skewed. Called for more resources to address the cancer backlog, citing estimates of over 100,000 patients affected. Emphasised the need for a distinct action plan and a leader with clout to drive initiatives forward. Highlighted predictions of 35,000 deaths and 60,000 lost years of life due to cancer survival rates being pushed back. Pointed out that data on the full extent of the backlog is not available due to delays in publishing radiotherapy datasets by NHS England. The MP noted that while waiting lists have reduced, this does not reflect a true picture due to fewer people presenting for screening and difficulty in seeing GPs during the pandemic.
The MP highlighted the difficulties faced by cancer patients and their families during the pandemic, citing stories of isolation and lack of support. He pointed out issues with radiotherapy in Northern Ireland, including funding shortages and staffing problems. The MP emphasized the need for holistic UK-wide approaches to address these challenges.
There are currently more than 30,000 individuals in the Midlands who have not been able to access diagnostic tests for cancer due to the pandemic.
The number of undiagnosed cancers may be as high as 1,675 people in my constituency alone because routine checks have been postponed during lockdowns.
The backlog of undiagnosed cancer cases is a significant issue, with Macmillan Cancer Support estimating 50,000 missing diagnoses and 33,000 fewer people starting treatment this year compared to 2019. Antoniazzi highlighted the need for a more realistic acknowledgment of the scale of the backlog and called on the Government to work with stakeholders to tackle it.