On Monday 6th July, BBC's Panorama focused on cancer care and on patients whose treatment had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This episode entitled 'Britain's cancer crisis' featured some distressing stories about patients going through late stage cancer treatment.
The Panorama programme cites a possible “worst case scenario” of 35,000 excess deaths from cancer, it is important to note however these are hypothetical predictions.
On balance, much has been done by front-line staff and those supporting organisations to respond to the situation with almost 30,000 people nationally starting cancer treatment in March – the highest number on record. In the East of England over 3,000 patients started treatment for cancer in March.
During the height of the outbreak it was necessary and appropriate to pause some cancer diagnostics and treatments both across the country and at a regional level, in order to protect immuno-compromised cancer patients from infection. However vital tests and treatments have continued and are still being delivered in a safe way for thousands of patients.
In the East of England we have a number of initiatives to ensure safe patient care; such as working with independent sector hospitals to provide cancer diagnostics and treatment in COVID free environments, working to ensure our hospitals are safe with ‘green’ or ‘clean’ pathways, and clinically prioritising patients so that those in urgent need of care are prioritised.
We are also working with charities and our Patient Advisory Group to keep people informed and reassured, so that people continue to seek help when they need to do so.