Concerns over 'unacceptable delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment'

Credit: PA

A health watchdog has launched a review of cancer services in Cumbria over concerns about diagnosis and treatment delays in the county.

Healthwatch Cumbria (HWC) says that while in most cases cancer services provided by acute trusts are felt to be good, there are certain aspects of care which are a concern.

The review describes unacceptable delays in referring patients to specialists for diagnosis as well as administrative and organisational delays and failure to meet national guidance that "could be significantly impacting on survival rates for some patients."

These concerns were raised by patients and families through a variety of different means including direct contact, email and via the Independent Advocacy Service for NHS complaints service as well as concerns received directly from the Department of Health and via Healthwatch England.

Concerns included:

  • The number of times a patient visits their GP before being referred and the time it takes for patients to receive test results. In some cases patients visited their GP five times before being referred to a specialist;

  • Communication between acute trusts and primary care can be poor; which is sometimes exacerbated by delays in transferring medical records between services and/or sites;

  • Information for patients can be inconsistent and is not always accessible to all patients; and

  • Ineffective communication between specialist/consultants and patients.

In response to the concerns raised HWC has made recommendations including:

  • NHS England carry out a review of GP assessment and referral practice in line with NICE guidelines, which currently state that referral for suspected cancer are carried out within 14 days;

  • Service providers review procedures and make necessary

  • improvements to ensure that diagnosis is confirmed, in writing within 14 days;

  • All service providers must ensure that clinicians are encouraging health care staff to communicate the long term effects of treatment and consider the patients view on treatment options;

  • The provision of information on complaints procedures and financial assistance is available, alongside other relevant information, and is accessible to all patients.