29
Oct 2020
26.7 million GP appointments in England ‘lost due to pandemic’ leading to fears of late cancer diagnoses and poor survival rates
Statistics by NHS Digital have estimated that there were 26.7 million fewer GP appointments in England between March and August than the same period last year, fuelling fears of a ticking time-bomb of cancer deaths.
Cancer Research UK have said over 350,000 people who would under normal circumstances have been urgently referred to a specialist for diagnosis have not consulted with their GP, and believes the delays could lead to an additional 35,000 avoidable deaths at the hands of cancer.
CQC inspectors also fear that lost GP appointments have led to a significant deterioration in the health of patients and the worsening of other conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
The CQC’s chief inspector of primary care Dr Rosie Benneyworth, said “We know there has been a reduction in cancer referrals and that is likely to have an impact longer term on people getting appropriate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“We know that people sometimes haven’t had their long-term conditions followed up, and that is likely to also have a long term impact. It’s really important that actually all the needs of the people are met, and not just the people with Covid-19.”
Ian Trenholm, chief executive of the CQC, added “As the country locked down, the number of GP appointments fell significantly. And there was a very, very definite move towards non face-to-face appointments, be that on the telephone or on video and online.
“If looked at across the whole of the year, the number of lost GP appointments translates into millions of people potentially not seeing their GP, not getting conditions diagnosed early enough, not getting those referrals on for diagnoses like cancer, and other conditions.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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