Staff crisis causing cancer care delays

Last week, NHS England ordered the four clinical commissioning groups across south Essex to improve after concerns were raised about cancer treatment times and delays in diagnosis.

A scathing report published after Ofsted-style inspections found the number of cancer patients surviving longer than one year was below the national average.

Groups in Southend, Castle Point and Rochford, Basildon and Brentwood and Thurrock have hit out - revealing they are battling staff recruitment problems.

Matt Rangue, chief nurse of the Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, said they have to resort to seeking help from London hospitals.

He said: “We are working with our neighbouring CCGs and Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals to improve the position for patients on the cancer pathways. Across the whole health system we have staff shortages and this has created challenges in seeing patients within 62 days.

“However, we continue to work on initiatives to attract staff into the area and where we currently have gaps we have been able to get some support from other hospitals in London.”

A spokesman for the Basildon and Brentwood group said GPs played a vital role in the early diagnosis of cancer.

He added: “We are not complacent and fully recognise the need to continually improve the diagnosis, treatment and care outcomes for cancer patients.

“In the overwhelming majority of cases GPs are the first point of contact for patients with suspicious symptoms and are therefore fundamental in the early identification of suspected cancer. “

The spokesman said some patients fail to turn up for appointments.

He added: “We are concerned that having been referred by their GP, a significant number of people are not understanding the urgency of the appointment when they are offered one by the hospital which can add to delays in diagnosis and treatment. We encourage patients to prioritise these appointments as they are extremely important.”

John Baron, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay , raised the importance of early diagnosis of cancer in the Commons.

Mr Baron, who has been chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer since 2009, asked what was being done to identify savings.

He added: “There is clear evidence showing that earlier diagnosis, in addition to leading to better survival rates and less aggressive treatments, offers substantial cost savings.

“Colon cancer at stage one costs around £3,000 per patient per year to treat, compared to £12,000 at stage four. Given the shortage of health economists in the NHS, will the Minister commit to commissioning a study to consider this in greater detail?”

Mr Baron, who was told the Government was waiting for reports it had commissioned, added: “Earlier diagnosis is the best way of improving cancer survival rates, as catching the disease in its early stages gives the best chance of successful treatment.

“Late-stage treatment can be both aggressive and expensive, which is not good for patients nor the NHS budget and taxpayers.”

Ian Stidston, accountable officer for NHS Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group, said new ratings introduced by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt would help cancer services to improve.

He said: “We now lead a group that brings together those who deliver cancer services to look at the issues that how we can improve local services.

“We welcome the opportunity for patients to share their experiences and suggestions to help us to meet the challenge of delivering cancer services that meet all the critical needs of people with cancer.”

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Healthwatch Essex, said: “Cancer is something that inevitably touches all our lives through someone we know and love being affected, and it’s why it is so important that it is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

“We know that we have managed to double cancer survival in the UK over the last 40 years and it’s important that these latest figures help encourage an even keener concentration on improving on that success.”