Huge drop in cancer referrals at Milton Keynes University Hospital during coronavirus pandemic

The number of people sent for urgent cancer investigations at Milton Keynes University Hospital has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures from NHS England.

Macmillan Cancer Support says the virus has "wreaked havoc" on cancer care nationally, with service disruption and fears over Covid-19 leading to a huge backlog of patients requiring vital treatment.

NHS England data shows 425 people were seen by a specialist at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust following an urgent GP referral in April.

That was down from 1,000 in the same month last year – a drop of 58 per cent.

The situation reflects that across England, where 79,600 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in April, down 60 per cent from April 2019.

Lynda Thomas, Macmillan's chief executive, said the latest figures are a "sobering demonstration" of the impact of Covid-19 on cancer services.

"The pandemic has wreaked havoc on cancer care. Many people with cancer are being left to wait for next steps in fear, worrying about the long-term implications for their health, their families and their future.

“We’ve been calling for an urgent recovery plan for NHS cancer services since April, to ensure cancer does not become the forgotten ‘C’ throughout this crisis.

"UK governments must now urgently commit to measures to address the backlog, including the allocation of the staffing and resources needed to deliver the safest possible care."

At Milton Keynes University Hospital, the number of people starting treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer rose by 20 per cent to 53 in April – contrasting with the fall seen across England as a whole.

Of them, 15 had waited over two months since their referral.

Nationally, 26 per cent of people waited two months or longer to begin their treatment process.

Sarah Woolnough, executive director of policy and information at charity Cancer Research UK, said the national statistics are "hugely concerning", and thousands of patients are now in a backlog needing cancer care.

“It’s devastating to see the impact that Covid-19 is having on cancer patients and these figures show just how much the virus has affected cancer waiting times", she said.

“The NHS has been working hard to create ‘Covid-protected’ spaces for cancer services. An essential part of this is frequent testing of NHS staff and patients, including those without symptoms, so that vulnerable patients aren’t put at risk of contracting the virus."

She said there had been some indication since April that patients are starting to contact their GPs again for telephone and online appointments.

Many people have been put off seeing their doctor during the pandemic due to fear of catching the virus or not wanting to burden staff, according to Professor Peter Johnson, the NHS's national clinical director for cancer.

He added: "Lives are saved if more people are referred for checks, so my message to anyone who has a worrying symptom is: the NHS is here for you and can provide safe checks and treatment if you need it, so please help us help you, and get in touch with your local GP like you usually would.”

In a statement, Milton Keynes University Hospital said: "Over the COVID-19 crisis we have seen a 54 per cent reduction in patients referrals via their GP with potential cancer symptoms.

"This has gradually started to rise, but it remains 38 per cent below our average referral rate.

"We remain concerned that people may not be seeking help for symptoms due to the concerns around visiting their GP or hospital as a result of the pandemic.

"We can reassure the public that our Cancer Service departments have remained open, providing services for our patients, and we want to reassure patients that we have taken several measures with infection control to ensure that our patients’ safety remains our priority whilst visiting the clinical teams.

"We would urge anyone who is experiencing symptoms that they are concerned about to call their GP so we can receive referrals for review.

"Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives."