Back
Cancer taskforce aims to reduce patient backlog
Sep 19, 2020
A new taskforce will meet next week to kick-start the recovery of cancer services across the NHS in England.
Charities believe the pandemic has led to a significant reduction in people being referred for urgent cancer treatment.
Cancer Research UK says three million people have missed cancer screenings since March.
The taskforce aims to investigate how to ensure more people are referred, tested and checked.
At Liverpool's new Clatterbridge cancer centre, which opened in June, treatment is up and running. The coronavirus meant face-to-face contacts with patients like Ian Crompton were greatly reduced.
'You feel alone'
Ian has previously been treated for prostate cancer, which meant he had to self-isolate throughout lockdown. Now he needs a scan to make sure all is well.
So his first appointment actually meeting staff has come as something of a relief.
"With being in isolation, in lockdown, you felt alone," Ian says.
"I find consultations face to face a lot better because you can ask questions.
"On the phone, there's no eye contact, which I find unusual."
Services are now starting to come back up to speed, but there is a significant backlog of patients who need treatment.
It's also estimated that around 350,000 fewer patients than normal have been referred for an urgent cancer investigation.
'I should have been examined'
1Shares
0Comments
0Favorites
1Likes
Say something to impress...
Loading...
Comments
Hot

No content at this moment.

Relevant people
BBC News
134121 Followers
News and more.
Related