One in three women suspected of having breast cancer are forced to wait more than two weeks to see specialists, figures reveal
- One in three women with suspected breast cancer waiting more than two weeks for critical appointments
- The NHS says those urgently referred for suspected breast cancer should see a specialist within 14 days
- Yet as hospitals struggle with Covid backlogs, this is not being met for thousands
One in three women suspected of having breast cancer are waiting longer than two weeks for critical appointments, figures reveal.
NHS targets say most people urgently referred by their GP for suspected breast cancer should see a specialist within 14 days.
But as hospitals struggle with Covid backlogs, this is not being met for thousands.
It means that cases are going undiagnosed for longer – delaying treatment.
Latest figures from NHS England show the number of breast cancer referrals not seen within in two weeks more than doubled in October.
The NHS says those urgently referred for suspected breast cancer should see a specialist within 14 days (File image)
One in three women suspected of having breast cancer are waiting longer than two weeks for critical appointments, figures revealed (File image)
The target was missed in 12,905 cases, which was 29.1 per cent.
This was a dramatic increase on the month before when 5,280 cases (12.5 per cent) did not get appointments within the timeframe.
Macmillan Cancer Support said the number of women being diagnosed with the disease at stage 4 was as much as 48 per cent higher in some months than expected.
Labour’s health spokesman Wes Streeting said: ‘No one should be left waiting and wondering for weeks on end when it comes to cancer.
'We need urgent answers on why under this Government the number of patients left waiting has risen so severely.’
A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘We are committed to ensuring people get the treatment they need.’
Cancer care remained a priority, he added.
