Covid-19 – 3,500 patients ‘missing’ from cancer treatment services in Wales44

According to a charity, around 3,500 patients have been ‘missing’ from cancer treatment services since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Macmillan urged for stronger messaging to tell the public the NHS was open to get symptoms checked, and another charity, Tenovus, said it had faced “push back” from government ministers over a recovery plan for cancer services.

Screening services for cancer were halted from the start of the pandemic until the end of June 2020 to ensure the safety of patients and staff, and so resources could be redeployed to tackle the virus.

According to Macmillan, their calculations, which are based on how many people have been diagnosed during the pandemic compared to previous years, estimate around 3,500 people may have missed a cancer diagnosis between March and November 2020.

Macmillan Wales’ Richard Pugh, said “We also know that since that date, Wales has entered a national lockdown and that our health services have had to cope with the highest levels of coronavirus infection Wales has seen since the pandemic began.

“The worry is that the current situation could be even worse than suggested. We’ve had a very successful public health campaign: ‘Stay home, stay safe, protect the NHS’. Unfortunately, there are people sitting at home with symptoms at the moment who have got cancer.

“What we desperately need to see now is a renewed confidence in people’s local health care services. Whether it is a cough, a lump or unexplained bleeding, please contact your GP if you have any new, or persistent changes to your health. They are still there to help you.”

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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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