Why are Britain’s cancer referral rates so bad?

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Often people are not aware, or ignore, symptoms of cancer before they seek medical advice, so when they do eventually go to the doctor the cancer is already at a late stage. Around a quarter of patients are diagnosed through emergency routes. Of those diagnosed through an emergency route (i.e. of that quarter) around 60 per cent are diagnosed through A&E.

A Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) report in 2011 found that cancer patients were ignoring alarm signs for months.

Overall, 12 per cent of patients were recorded as having symptoms for two months or more prior to first presentation. 12 per cent of those with breast lumps, 26 per cent of those with change in bowel habits and 20 per cent of those with rectal bleeding delayed for more than two months before consulting.

Referral targets missed

Patients should not have to wait more than 62 days from their urgent GP referral to the start of their treatment. However, a CRUK spokesperson told Channel 4 News, that this target is often missed and that more than 5,000 patients have waited more than 62 days for treatment.

Sarah Woolnough, CRUK executive director of policy and information, said: “Consecutive breaches mean thousands of patients are being failed. Today’s figures show that more than a third of all NHS trusts in England have breached the 62 day target.”