NHS crisis hits cancer patients as nearly 70,000 are forced to wait ‘too long’ for vital care
Official figures reveal NHS hospitals missed targets for treating urgently-referred sufferers over the past three years
NEARLY 70,000 patients have been forced to wait too long for vital cancer care, official figures reveal.
NHS hospitals missed their targets for treating urgently-referred sufferers over the past three years.
It means one patient in five is forced to wait at least nine weeks for surgery or other life-saving action.
Hospitals are meant to treat 85 per cent of people suspected of having cancer within 62 days of their GP referring them.
But new figures show the government has failed to meet its target in every quarter since the end of 2013.
Just 82.1 per cent underwent their first treatment in time, meaning 6,450 waited longer than needed in the last quarter.
The figures heaped fresh embarrassment on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, under fire over the crisis in over-stretched accident and emergency units.
Labour last night branded the cancer stats “absolutely shocking”.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “It’s disgraceful that patients needing cancer treatment are being forced to wait so long.
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“It’s now been three years since the Tories hit their two-month cancer target, and every month thousands of people are not getting the quick treatment the should be getting.
Theresa May is failing those patients most in need. It’s about time our PM got a grip and started putting patients first.
Jonathan Ashworth - Shadow health secretary
But the NHS insisted that cancer treatment was improving.
A spokesman said: “Actually, your chance of surviving cancer is now the highest ever, and over the past year improved NHS cancer treatment has meant 2,400 more people surviving their cancer than just twelve months ago.
“Also most major hospitals are getting new radiotherapy machines over the next 18 months which will mean faster modern care.”
Medics pay cap ‘ignored'
By RYAN SABEY
A WAGES cap on stand-in staff at NHS hospitals was breached an incredible 2.7million times last year.
Bosses can ignore the limit, set at 55 per cent more than normal staff pay, if patient safety is at risk through a shortage of doctors, nurses and other staff.
Some locum doctors can earn £4,000 a day.
Donna Kinnair of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “This is an expensive and short- term solution. The Government needs to encourage more nurses into the profession.”
But a Department of Health spokesman said the cap had already saved £900million.