Twice as many NHS patients still waiting too long for cancer and other life-saving tests - Andy Burnham

Twice as many NHS patients still waiting too long for cancer and other life-saving tests

  • Number of NHS patients waiting too long for key tests more than doubles in a year
  • The number of people waiting over 6-week limit for CT scans - that detect brain tumours, as well as heart and kidney damage -  doubles in the last month alone

Official NHS figures released today for May 2014 show 18,664 patients waiting longer than the recommended six-week limit for tests – the highest number for six years and more than twice the figure this time last year.

NHS guidance states no patient should wait longer than six weeks for the tests, but 18,664 had been waiting longer than that at the end of May – up from 6,899 last May and five times the figure at the time of the last election.

The patients had been referred by GPs for tests that detect cancer – including MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds and endoscopies – and other life-threatening illnesses, including heart disease.

These figures include:

  • 1,611 patients in May 2014 waiting over 6 weeks for CT scans – up from 859 the previous month and 215 at the election.
  • 3,870 patients waiting for endoscopy tests that detect bowel and stomach cancers (Colonoscopy, Flexi Sigmoidoscopy, Cystoscopy and Gastroscopy) – up from 1,669 last May and 976 at the election.
  • 6,839 patients waiting for ultrasound tests - not including pregnant women – up from 1,181 last year and 291 at the election.
  • 1,960 waiting too long for MRI scans compared to 374 at the election.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said:

“Every day, yet more evidence emerges showing an NHS heading seriously downhill under David Cameron.

“Patients are waiting longer for crucial tests – causing stress and real anguish for worried families. Last month, the NHS missed the cancer treatment target for the first time ever and these delays have clearly played a part in that. All the progress made on cancer care in the last decade is now at risk.

“We warned David Cameron about the impact of his NHS re-organisation on patient care. He chose not to listen and now patients are paying the price. This is yet more proof you can’t trust the Tories with the NHS”.