Almost half of cancer patients are still waiting too long for further investigations into possible cancer at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as the NHS struggles to restore pre-Covid services.
In August 2022, just 53.2% of patients at the trust began their treatment within two months of being referred to the hospital by their GP, according to figures from NHS England.
Targets say that trusts should aim to see 85.0% of patients within 62 days between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of treatment.
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Back in March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, 71.1% of referrals at the trust were seen within 62 days. That’s still short of the target, but far closer to it then the current situation.
At Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, just 53.1% of patients were seen within 62 days in August this year, down from 88.8% in March 2020.
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, meanwhile, 35.7% were seen within 62 days, down from 66.7% in March 2020.
Only two trusts in our region came close to meeting the target - Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (81.5%), and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust (84.6%).
Meanwhile, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 75% were seen within 62 days; at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, 76% were seen within 62 days; and, at Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 77.8% were seen within 62 days.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside explained that tackling the cancer backlog is its priority.
A spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: "As part of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS staff are working hard to improve performance against all four key waiting time standards – 14-day urgent referral, 28-day faster diagnosis, 31-day first treatment and 62-day referral to treatment. However there is clearly more work to do.
"Tackling the cancer backlog is our priority - with faster diagnosis the key. To support this, people in Cheshire and Merseyside already have access to five community diagnostics centres – in St Helens, Wirral, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port and Northwich – with further diagnostics centres now confirmed to cover Southport and Ormskirk and Warrington and Halton.
"Community Diagnostics Centres give patients quick and easy access to diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound and blood tests – all in one place – and therefore faster access to care."
And Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA), said: "In Cheshire and Merseyside, 2,600 more patients each month are seeing a cancer specialist in hospital after an urgent referral from their GP, compared with before the pandemic. More patients than ever are being seen within a fortnight for their first hospital appointment but, because of high demand, some are waiting longer than usual for clinic appointments and diagnostic tests."
People should be are aware that unexplained changes to their body could be a sign of cancer. Symptoms that need to be checked include:
· a lump that suddenly appears on your body
· unexplained bleeding
· changes to your bowel habits
CMCA Medical Director Dr Chris Warburton said: "If you notice any changes to your body’s normal processes or unusual, unexplained symptoms, this can sometimes be an early sign of cancer. If you do – especially if they last more than three weeks – contact your GP practice as soon as possible to get checked out. It will probably not be cancer-related but speak to your local surgery to check."
For more information on cancer signs and symptoms, see: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/symptoms/
Cancer Research UK explained that it's important to remember that it’s better to be on a waiting list than to sit at home with symptoms.
Naser Turabi, Director of Evidence and Implementation at Cancer Research UK said: "NHS staff have never worked harder, and yet cancer waiting time targets continue to be missed. The sad truth is that long waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment have become the norm – this is unacceptable. A matter of weeks is enough for the disease to progress, which is why reducing waiting times for cancer patients needs to be a top priority for the new prime minister.
"Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet must publish the 10-Year Cancer Plan that his predecessors committed to. It needs to set out fully-costed plans to prevent more cancers, diagnose them early and treat them quickly, with an ambition to transform cancer services in the UK from world lagging to world leading.
"In the meantime, it's important to remember that it’s better to be on a waiting list than to sit at home with symptoms. Listen to your body – if you sense something isn’t right, see your GP and persevere to get an appointment. Your doctor wants to hear from you."
