Unacceptable cancer diagnosis delays in South Gloucestershire

1249 local people had to wait more than two weeks to see a cancer specialist after a GP referral in a single month, new analysis of NHS data by South Gloucestershire’s Liberal Democrats has found.

While the NHS target is for 93% of patients to see a cancer specialist after a referral, in the NHS trust serving South Gloucestershire this was the case for just 40% of patients.

South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to bring forward an urgent plan to improve cancer care in light of the revelations.

Nationwide, 108 NHS trusts miss the two-week cancer referral target. A staggering 62,360 people had to wait more than two weeks to see a cancer specialist after a GP referral in August alone.  

Commenting, Leader of the Lib Dem Opposition Group for South Gloucestershire, Claire Young said:

“It is deeply upsetting that so many people in South Gloucestershire are being let down. Early cancer diagnosis is crucial, and too few are seeing a specialist in good time. 

“The government has failed to come up with a proper plan to help people as targets for waiting times are missed month after month in South Gloucestershire. 

"Our NHS is being run into the ground, from ballooning ambulance waits to understaffed hospitals, and this Conservative government has done little but shrug its shoulders. It's just not good enough and people here deserve better.

“We need an urgent plan to improve cancer care and to save our local health services. People are worried sick about what could happen if they get a diagnosis too late. More inaction is not an option.”

Image credit: Liz West (Flickr)