Latest news with #PatPrice
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors' fury at 'disgraceful' cancer waiting times - as new figures show delays have got WORSE for the first time in 7 months
Cancer medics say NHS cancer data shows the 'heartbreaking disaster' of continuing to miss treatment targets. Health service figures show the proportion of patients being treated within two months of an urgent cancer referral was 71.4 per cent in March this year. While this is highest figure recorded since 2022 its still far below the 85 per cent target set by NHS England. Oncologist Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign and chair of Radiotherapy UK, said this now meant 30,000 cancer patients had been forced to wait over three months to start treatment this year. 'Today's NHS cancer data doesn't just show missed targets, it shows a catalogue of missed chances to save lives,' she said. 'This is a heartbreaking disaster because every four weeks of delay in starting treatment increases the risk of death by 10 per cent.' Other NHS data released showed the waiting list for routine hospital treatment has risen for the first time in seven months. Figure show 7.42million treatments—relating to 6.25million individual patients—were waiting to be carried out at the end of March. This is a rise from 7.4million treatments—relating to 6.24million individual patients—the month prior. The data will be a blow to Labour, which is introducing 'carrot and stick reforms' for NHS leaders in a bid to speed up progress across the health service. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has set out plans to reward leaders who slash waiting times and improve services for patients, while penalising failing managers. He said bonuses and pay rises will be a 'reward and not a right'. Reacting to the data the Royal College of Surgeons said it raised questions on if Government targets to slash waiting lists can be met. The body's vice president, Professor Frank Smith, said: 'NHS staff are working tirelessly to get patients seen more quickly. We can't get away from the fact that the pace of progress remains sluggish.' 'Our members frequently tell us they could be doing more surgeries if they had enough operating theatres, or if existing facilities weren't out of commission due to disrepair. 'Without better access to operating theatres for surgical teams, the NHS will fail to make the productivity gains needed to meet targets and patients will continue to endure unacceptably long waits. 'If this government is serious about delivering on its waiting time pledges, it must be realistic and find further capital funding to repair crumbling NHS estates and expand capacity.' However, the new figures do show some progress in cutting very long waits. Some 1,164 patients in England had been waiting more than 18 months to start routine treatment at the end of March, down from 1,691 in February. A year earlier, in March 2024, the number stood at 4,769. There were also 7,381 patients who had been waiting more than 65 weeks to start treatment, down from 13,223 the previous month. This figure stood at 48,967 in March 2024. NHS England said the health service delivered over 100,000 more treatments in March compared to the same month last year. Last March was the busiest ever for the number of tests and checks carried out for patients, it added. Mr Streeting said: 'Since day one, we have been clear it will take time to reverse the disastrous waiting list we inherited. 'But since July, real progress has been made – including over winter. We have overseen a massive increase in appointments available to meet rising demand, reduced long waits and helped people get diagnosed quicker. 'Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, we have now delivered more than 3.3 million extra appointments, helping hundreds of thousands of people get off the waiting list and get on with their lives. 'Our plan for change will continue to put patients first as we work to end the misery felt by millions up and down the country who have been denied the care they need for too long.' Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, added: 'The scale of demand that our frontline NHS teams are managing is enormous.' 'Today's figures show that each month, they are having to not only deal with an historic backlog, but they are also working to keep up with the hundreds of thousands of new patients that need our care. 'In March, we saw a particularly sharp rise in referrals–yet staff still managed to deliver more for patients with 100,000 more treatments delivered and thousands more getting a timely diagnosis for cancer.' Other NHS cancer data shows only 78.9 per cent of patients had their cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days in March. This was above the target of 75 per cent but below the 80 per cent ministers want to achieve by March next year. Figures for A&E performance show 74.8 per cent of patients seeking emergency care were seen within four hours in April, a slight decline from the 75 per cent seen within this timeframe in March. Both figures were below the NHS target that 78 per cent of A&E patients should be seen within this time. The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England stood at 44,881 in April, down from 46,766 in March. Average ambulance response times in April for the most serious emergencies was seven minutes and 43 seconds. This is down from seven minutes and 52 seconds in March and is the quickest time since May 2021 – but it remains above the target standard response time of seven minutes. Reacting to the NHS performance data, Francesca Cavallaro, senior analytical manager at the Health Foundation said they were a reminder of the 'strain' patients and staff were under. 'With a 10-year health plan, urgent and emergency care plan, and forthcoming spending review all due in the next few weeks, the government has the chance to set a clear direction for the health service. 'But ambitions and goals will need to be backed up with investment, reform and a clear plan to achieve them.'
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Cancer care in the UK ‘at breaking point', experts warn
Cancer care in the UK is at a 'critical breaking point,' several experts have warned, calling for radical action to tackle deepening financial pressures. The group says that a National Cancer Director with a dedicated office should be introduced to take a data-driven approach to improving cancer care systems in the UK. Writing for The Lancet Oncology, the group of authors criticises the previous Conservative government for '14 years of gross mismanagement.' Responding, Labour says it is determined to drive down waiting times for cancer patients, pointing to its upcoming National Cancer Plan to improve the current care system. Mark Lawler, professor of Digital Health at Queen's University Belfast and lead author, said: 'The urgency is clear: in my mind, we are already in the midst of a cancer crisis, precipitated by 14 years of gross mismanagement of cancer by the previous administration and the collateral impact of Covid and national lockdowns on cancer services and cancer patients. 'Now, more than ever, we must learn from each other, acknowledge the scale of the challenge, and implement data-driven solutions and achieve efficiencies, some of which may be contentious in the short term, but are essential for long-term cancer control within financial constraints.' The comment article highlights several policy recommendations which the authors state will improve survival and quality of life for people with cancer. Among the issues highlighted is the abolition of NHS England, which the authors said marks a 'seismic shift' in UK healthcare governance. The authors warn that the 'greatest risk lies in reactive, short-term, ill-informed decision-making' by the Government, which they state could further reduce UK cancer survival rates, deepen health inequalities and escalate inefficiencies. Professor Pat Price, from Imperial College London, who is chairwoman of Radiotherapy UK, said: 'Delayed cancer treatment has become the deadly norm in this country, and we won't reverse it unless we commit to doing things differently. 'If we keep doing the same things, with the same voices in the room, we're going to continue to face some of the worst cancer outcomes in Europe. 'In the massively overlooked area of radiotherapy cancer care, for example, nearly two-thirds of cancer patients are waiting too long for their cancer treatment. 'Too often, we see cancer policy take a tunnel-vision approach, only focusing on areas like early diagnosis and completely overlooking the fact that we need to actually treat patients if we want to improve survival. 'The international environment, domestic funding pressures and a lack of policy priority to take the action needed could eclipse attempts to reverse the poor cancer outcomes the country faces. 'If we want to stop cancer patients in this country from dying needlessly, the promised cancer plan has to be radical. It needs to be data-driven. 'And it needs to ensure that, if money is tight, we're spending it on the things that are proven to improve cancer outcomes.' Professor Richard Sullivan, director of the Institute for Cancer Policy, King's College London, said: 'We need to get real. 'The evidence is irrefutable – we need to recognise the impact that the global insecurity we are currently experiencing will have on health systems. 'If defence spending goes up, as it certainly will, health expenditure will suffer. And the recent bombardment with tariffs from the new US government will only make matters worse.' Another issue highlighted by the research team is the need to cut consultation by the current Government, which they said is delaying the development of a new national cancer strategy. Professor Lawler said: 'We cannot continually consult our way out of a crisis – the evidence we and others have provided is irrefutable. 'We have more than enough data intelligence – what we need to do is act on this evidence as a matter of urgency. 'At the turn of the century, Denmark had worse cancer outcomes than the UK. 'But by prioritising cancer at the very top of the Danish health agenda, they now have among the best improvements in cancer outcomes in Europe. We need to 'do a Denmark'. 'If we don't act urgently and boldly 'follow the data', we'll forgo our precious opportunity and remain rock-bottom in the competition against cancer, our deadly enemy.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government had 'inherited a broken NHS where too many cancer patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment'. The spokesperson said: 'We are determined to drive down waiting times and our Plan for Change is already getting patients seen and treated faster, with 80,000 more diagnosed or ruled out with cancer between July and January. 'The NHS exceeded its faster diagnosis cancer target for the first time in February amid record demand – almost four-fifths of people received a definitive cancer diagnosis or all-clear within four weeks. 'This is just the start: our National Cancer Plan will set out further how we will improve cancer care to bring this country's cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts warn that UK cancer care system is at ‘critical breaking point'
The UK cancer care system is facing a 'critical breaking point', a number of experts have warned. In a comment article published in The Lancet Oncology, the researchers have called for radical action to head off deepening financial pressures. The article calls for the appointment of an independent National Cancer Director and an office of support to take data-driven actions across the UK. The Government has responded, saying it is determined to drive down waiting times for cancer patients. Mark Lawler, professor of Digital Health at Queen's University Belfast and lead author, said: 'The urgency is clear: in my mind, we are already in the midst of a cancer crisis, precipitated by 14 years of gross mismanagement of cancer by the previous administration and the collateral impact of Covid and national lockdowns on cancer services and cancer patients. 'Now, more than ever, we must learn from each other, acknowledge the scale of the challenge, and implement data-driven solutions and achieve efficiencies, some of which may be contentious in the short term, but are essential for long-term cancer control within financial constraints.' The comment article highlights several policy recommendations which the authors state will improve survival and quality of life for people with cancer. Among the issues highlighted is the abolition of NHS England, which the authors said marks a 'seismic shift' in UK healthcare governance. The authors warn that the 'greatest risk lies in reactive, short-term, ill-informed decision-making' by the Government, which they state could further reduce UK cancer survival rates, deepen health inequalities and escalate inefficiencies. Professor Pat Price, from Imperial College London, who is chairwoman of Radiotherapy UK, said: 'Delayed cancer treatment has become the deadly norm in this country, and we won't reverse it unless we commit to doing things differently. 'If we keep doing the same things, with the same voices in the room, we're going to continue to face some of the worst cancer outcomes in Europe. 'In the massively overlooked area of radiotherapy cancer care, for example, nearly two-thirds of cancer patients are waiting too long for their cancer treatment. 'Too often, we see cancer policy take a tunnel-vision approach, only focusing on areas like early diagnosis and completely overlooking the fact that we need to actually treat patients if we want to improve survival. 'The international environment, domestic funding pressures and a lack of policy priority to take the action needed could eclipse attempts to reverse the poor cancer outcomes the country faces. 'If we want to stop cancer patients in this country from dying needlessly, the promised cancer plan has to be radical. It needs to be data-driven. 'And it needs to ensure that, if money is tight, we're spending it on the things that are proven to improve cancer outcomes.' Professor Richard Sullivan, director of the Institute for Cancer Policy, King's College London, said: 'We need to get real. 'The evidence is irrefutable – we need to recognise the impact that the global insecurity we are currently experiencing will have on health systems. 'If defence spending goes up, as it certainly will, health expenditure will suffer. And the recent bombardment with tariffs from the new US government will only make matters worse.' Another issue highlighted by the research team is the need to cut consultation by the current Government, which they said is delaying the development of a new national cancer strategy. Professor Lawler said: 'We cannot continually consult our way out of a crisis – the evidence we and others have provided is irrefutable. 'We have more than enough data intelligence – what we need to do is act on this evidence as a matter of urgency. 'At the turn of the century, Denmark had worse cancer outcomes than the UK. 'But by prioritising cancer at the very top of the Danish health agenda, they now have among the best improvements in cancer outcomes in Europe. We need to 'do a Denmark'. 'If we don't act urgently and boldly 'follow the data', we'll forgo our precious opportunity and remain rock-bottom in the competition against cancer, our deadly enemy.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government had 'inherited a broken NHS where too many cancer patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment'. The spokesperson said: 'We are determined to drive down waiting times and our Plan for Change is already getting patients seen and treated faster, with 80,000 more diagnosed or ruled out with cancer between July and January. 'The NHS exceeded its faster diagnosis cancer target for the first time in February amid record demand – almost four-fifths of people received a definitive cancer diagnosis or all-clear within four weeks. 'This is just the start: our National Cancer Plan will set out further how we will improve cancer care to bring this country's cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.'
The Guardian
31-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘Ridiculous' cuts to AI cancer tech funding in England could cost lives, experts warn
Ministers have cut millions of pounds of funding for potentially life saving AI cancer technology in England, which cancer experts warn will increase waiting times and could cause more patients to die. Contouring is used in radiotherapy to ensure treatment is as effective and safe as possible. The tumour and normal tissue is 'mapped' or contoured on to medical scans, to ensure the radiation targets the cancer while minimising damage to healthy tissues and organs. Normally, this is a slow, manual process that can take doctors between 20 and 150 minutes to complete. AI auto-contouring takes less than five minutes and costs around £10-£15 per patient. Research shows that AI contouring can cut waits for radiotherapy by more than five days for breast cancer patients, up to nine days for prostate cancer patients and three days for lung cancer patients. In May 2024, the Conservative government announced £15.5m over three years to fund AI auto-contouring for all hospitals providing radiotherapy. Work continued on the scheme after the general election, with online webinars and follow-up calls for radiotherapy departments held in September. The 51 trusts offering radiotherapy continued to work on installing the cloud-based technology, with a number using it early, in the belief the funding was secured. But in February, in an email seen by the Guardian, Nicola McCulloch, the deputy director of specialised commissioning at NHS England, said the funding had been cancelled 'due to a need to further prioritise limited investment'. There would no longer be a centrally funded programme to support implementation of the technology, she said. The decision means many radiotherapy departments face a return to manual contouring, prompting accusations that the government is ditching digital and going back to analogue cancer care. Analysis by Radiotherapy UK has calculated that removing funding for AI contouring in England will add up to 500,000 extra days to waiting lists for breast, prostate and lung cancer alone and leave each of the 51 trusts with a £300,000 shortfall. Waiting lists for radiotherapy are already long. Figures show that in January, 60% of cancer patients waiting to begin radiation treatment, nearly 1,000 people, waited longer than two months, and 23% waited more than 104 days. The chair of Radiotherapy UK, Prof Pat Price, said: 'The government cannot laud the advent of AI in one breath, and allow this to happen. Far from moving from an analogue to digital NHS, when it comes to radiotherapy it feels like the opposite is happening. This wrong-footed decision will exacerbate the impact of severe staff shortages.' The leading oncologist urged ministers to intervene. 'Some departments are so short-handed that they're shutting machines down because no one is there to operate them and nationally, radiotherapy vacancy rates are running at 8%. This investment in AI could have alleviated some of these pressures. Without it, cancer patients will wait longer than necessary for treatment, potentially costing their lives.' Clive Peedell, a consultant clinical oncologist at South Tees Hospitals NHS foundation trust, said: 'This is a really catastrophic mistake. Half of all cancer patients will need radiotherapy at some point during the course of their treatment. Labour is supposed to be the party of the NHS, but instead it is going against innovation in cancer care. 'To just turn the tap off is ridiculous. We've had a big increase in cases, but we are managing our workloads because AI is helping us. If we can't get the funding to keep using it, we'll have to go back to planning treatment by hand. So we'll probably have to employ more staff or have much longer waiting lists because of this terrible decision.' Jane Richards (not her real name), a manager working in radiotherapy services, said the decision to pull funding for AI contouring felt like a betrayal. Her area had implemented the technology already, believing the funding from NHS England was assured. 'Every time I see Keir Starmer or Wes Streeting talking about the importance of AI, I get frustrated,' she said. 'We're not talking about the future of a technology, we're talking about something that we are making use of in the here and now and we are demonstrating has an impact, yet we don't have central funding for it. 'So I feel incredibly angry. If you can only fit two patients into one manual radiotherapy planning clinic instead of four using AI contouring, and you've got four patients coming in each week, waiting lists are going to grow exponentially. And if they face longer waits, their prognosis will be worse.' Spencer Goodman, a professional officer for radiotherapy at the Society of Radiographers, said: 'Radiographers recognise AI's potential to improve patient care efficiency. Withdrawing funding for AI technologies that help define radiation fields in radiotherapy is a step backward. Given the current workforce shortage, proven AI tools can help streamline processes and enable faster, more accurate patient treatment, benefiting both providers and patients.' A spokesperson for the Department of Health said 'funding has not been cut', but did not refer directly to the AI contouring funding decision. 'This government is investing £70m in radiotherapy over the next year to replace old machines, so that patients can access the latest technology available.' They said AI was already being used in various areas of healthcare, including breast cancer diagnosis, and that the government's national cancer plan was aimed at improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research.
