MP group says government has overseen years of decline in cancer care and non-urgent hospital services in England

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have said the government has overseen years of decline in these areas in England.

 

They added that services had started to deteriorate long before the pandemic, pointing out that key targets had not been met since 2016, and that the pandemic had just exacerbated the problems.

 

However, ministers said they were committed to investing additional money and creating more capacity to treating patients to address the backlog that had now developed.

 

There are currently six million people on a hospital waiting list, equating to one in nine of the population and the highest figure on record.

 

In addition, just two-thirds of urgent cancer patients commence treatment within the target time of 62 days, and the number of referrals for cancer care has dropped by between 240,000 and 740,000 since the start of the pandemic.

 

The group of MPs said people would face serious health consequences because of the delays, with some patients dying earlier.

 

Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the PAC, said “The Department for Health and Social Care has overseen a long-term decline that is dragging our NHS and the heroic staff down.”

 

She added that she was “extremely concerned” that there appeared to be no real plan to tackle the problems.

 

The government recently announced an NHS recovery plan, with an additional £8bn being invested over the next three years, which ministers said would see 30 per cent more patients treated.  The funding will go towards the establishment of 160 community diagnostic centres, together with surgical hubs focussed on high-volume routine surgery away from major hospital sites, to increase efficiency and reduce the chances of emergency cases leading to cancellations.

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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