Cancer referrals fall to record low due to coronavirus pandemic
Telegraph, 12 Jun 2020
Covid-19 has “wreaked havoc” on cancer services, experts have said, as new data reveals referrals fell to their lowest ever levels in the first full month of lockdown,
NHS figures show that numbers more than halved between March and April.
The statistics also revealed that the proportion of patients seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks after an urgent GP referral is at its lowest level since records began.
It is thought that many patients are staying away from NHS facilities for fear of catching the virus.
Coronavirus has also impacted those already diagnosed with cancer, like Chris Ramsey. He was meant to have surgery for prostate cancer in April but that was cancelled as the operating theatre he was booked into turned into a ward for coronavirus patients. Chris will now have his surgery in June.
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NHS figures show that numbers more than halved between March and April.
The statistics also revealed that the proportion of patients seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks after an urgent GP referral is at its lowest level since records began.
It is thought that many patients are staying away from NHS facilities for fear of catching the virus.
Coronavirus has also impacted those already diagnosed with cancer, like Chris Ramsey. He was meant to have surgery for prostate cancer in April but that was cancelled as the operating theatre he was booked into turned into a ward for coronavirus patients. Chris will now have his surgery in June.
Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/11/covid-19s-devastating-impact-cancer-services/?WT.mc_id=tmg_youtube_offsite_televideo&utm_source=tmgoff&utm_medium=tmg_youtube&utm_content=offsite_televideo&utm_campaign=tmg_youtube_offsite_televideo
Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
