New research indicates that recent NHS strikes caused thousands of cancer appointments and operations to be cancelled

Posted: 15/09/2023

Research conducted across 35 NHS trusts has shown that, as a direct consequence of industrial action by NHS staff earlier this year, 9,310 cancer appointments and procedures were cancelled. Extrapolating that across all NHS trusts in England, the research suggests that an estimated 36,442 appointments and procedures for cancer patients were cancelled; a significant number for patients who are vulnerable and worried about their diagnosis, and concerned to receive treatment as soon as possible.  

NHS leaders say the true number affected may be twice that, with hospitals choosing not to schedule appointments on the days affected by strike action, to avoid having to cancel them.

This research also follows recently published figures on NHS waiting times for cancer treatment in England for June 2023, in which it was shown that:

• 80.3% of patients referred urgently for suspected cancer were seen within two weeks of the referral (against a target of 93%); and
• only 59.2% of cancer patients received their diagnosis and started initial treatment within 62 days of being referred, which is well below the target of 85%. 

There can, of course, be good reasons for some delays. For example, it can take longer to plan treatments, or some patients may need prehabilitation to give them the best chance of recovering well. However, it is worrying that certain NHS trusts continue to fail to see, diagnose and treat cancer patients quickly enough and in line with their own targets, meaning that many people who need potentially life-saving cancer treatments are waiting for longer. 

Arran Macleod, senior associate in the clinical negligence team, commented: “The statistics on waiting times indicate that patients are being let down and their safety put at risk by ongoing delays. The industrial action seems to have compounded the difficulties the NHS was already facing, and the combined strikes of consultants and junior doctors in the weeks ahead seem likely to exacerbate an already difficult problem.”

Quantifying the impact of missing targets and longer waits on patient outcomes is difficult as the research is limited. However, it is well recognised that for a large number of cancers, testing and diagnosis, and starting treatment quickly, increase the prospect of successfully treating the disease. Conversely, delays in diagnosis and treatment can allow the cancer to grow and spread and can mean that some patients will require more invasive or debilitating treatment. In the worst cases, delays may mean that patients miss out on the chance for their cancer to be cured. 

Anyone who has an appointment in the weeks ahead to discuss their possible or established cancer, or is scheduled to receive treatment, will likely be worried by the prospect of delays. It is conceivable that, for some who experience delays, their short or long term outcome could be affected.

Penningtons Manches Cooper has a specialist team dealing with clinical negligence claims involving cancer. We provide an initial consultation on a no obligation basis to individuals who have concerns about their care and outcome. Please contact the team on 0800 328 9545, email clinnegspecialist@penningtonslaw.com, or complete our online assessment form.

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