![Warning that NHS is ‘sleepwalking into cancer disaster’ with tens of thousands missing diagnoses due to pandemic disruption](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-843118686-724x388.jpg)
04
May 2021
Warning that NHS is ‘sleepwalking into cancer disaster’ with tens of thousands missing diagnoses due to pandemic disruption
Experts have warned the NHS is ‘sleeping walking into a cancer crisis’ that is putting survival rates back by up to fifteen years.
Royal Colleges, MPs and a coalition of charities are calling for an increase in funding for cancer services in order to save lives, demanding government investment so hospitals can tackle the huge backlog of hundreds of thousands of patients.
NHS data has revealed that tens of thousands of people in Britain are missing a diagnosis due to the coronavirus pandemic disruption, which could significantly reduce their chances of survival.
Around 370,000 fewer people have been seen by a specialist since the start of the pandemic in March last year than in the previous 12 months.
Oncologists say the delays could cost 38,000 lives, and have set the country’s progress in improving cancer survival rates back by ten to 15 years.
The declaration has been signed by 14 leading doctors and organisations, including the Royal College of Radiologists, the Institute of Cancer Policy and Cancer Research UK.
It says “We call on the Government to urgently address the Covid-induced cancer backlog and save thousands of lives by allocating funding for cancer services.
“We further urge the Government to recognise that to catch up with the cancer backlog, NHS services needs the tools to “super-boost” capacity above pre-pandemic levels. This means revisiting aspects of the Budget and Spending Review to ring-fence urgent cancer investment.”
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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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