Fewer begin cancer treatment than pre-pandemic at Peterborough hospitals

Macmillan Cancer Support says the continued disruption to cancer treatment caused by Covid-19 is traumatising people six months into the pandemic, as a second wave threatens further setbacks.

NHS England data shows 143 Peterborough patients started treatment for cancer at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in August – 19 fewer than the 162 to do so 12 months previously.

But the huge efforts that have been put into getting other services and treatments back up and running safely mean this was still well up from the 116 who were seen in May.

The North West Anglia NHS Trust runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke and Stamford and Rutland hospitals, and has been trying to find ways of continuing urgent cancer treatments despite coronavirus restrictions.

The Trust forged a deal for its surgeobns to carry out cancer operations at the Fitzwilliam Hospital in Bretton, Peterborough.

Patients have also undergone recovery treatment at the private hospital.

Across England, 20,200 patients started treatment in August – more than 5,500 fewer than 25,800 a year earlier.

There had been signs of improvement, with the number rising in June and reaching 21,600 in July after a low of 16,700 in May.

But Sara Bainbridge, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said the latest figures were “extremely worrying”.

“Disruption to cancer diagnosis and treatment is having a traumatic impact on cancer patients’ lives,” she added.

“Earlier this week, the Health Secretary highlighted growing fears that rapidly rising Covid-19 rates could have an impact on the recovery of already fragile cancer services.

“Cancer must not become the ‘forgotten C’ during this pandemic. It is critical the Government urgently puts plans and resources in place to increase capacity and protect the NHS from further disruption, as we stare down the barrel of a second wave.”

Of the patients at North West Anglia Trust who started treatment in August, 93.7 per cent did so within one month of their diagnosis – short of the NHS target of 96 per cent.

Across England, the figure was better, with 94.5 per cent started within the timeframe, though slightly down from 95.1 per cent in July and a target-hitting 96.1 per cent the previous August.

An NHS spokesman said: “Cancer clinicians worked hard to ensure that, despite the disruption and acute pressures from Covid, around 85 per cent of cancer treatments continued during the pandemic with over 246,000 people receiving treatment and more than 870,000 referred for checks since the start of March.

“Cancer and screening services are open, ready and able to receive patients so anyone who is concerned about a possible cancer symptom should contact their GP and come forward for a check.