TENS of thousands of potential cancer patients have waited more than 13 weeks for key diagnostic tests and scans as a result of the Covid pandemic.
New figures have laid bare the scale of delays for the first time, revealing that 98,332 people in Scotland were on waiting lists for investigations such as MRI or CT scans, colonoscopies and endoscopies by the end of June this year.
That was an increase of 10,031 compared to the situation at the end of February, two weeks before NHS Scotland was plunged into emergency measures.
Although non-urgent treatments were paused, patients with possible cancer symptoms were still encouraged to come forward with assurances that where necessary diagnostic investigations would continue.
By the end of June, however, half of all those on the waiting lists had been waiting more than 13 weeks: 30,500 for scans and ultrasounds and more than 19,000 for an endoscopy examinations - which includes colonoscopies typically used to check for signs of bowel cancer.
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While not all these patients will have had cancer, waiting times guidelines state that no one referred for these key diagnostic tests should wait longer than six weeks.
By contrast of those on the waiting lists at the end of February - pre-Covid - only 5.1% had been waiting longer than 13 weeks.
Marion O’Neill, head of external affairs for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: “This report is a clear indication of the backlog that’s been mounting since lockdown.
“Hospital services have had to rapidly adapt and innovate to manage the impact of the pandemic so far, and this will need to continue to prevent the number of suspected cancer cases mounting up further.
“The public also need to feel confident that, if they have suspected cancer symptoms, they will receive a test swiftly and safely, with minimal risk of exposure to COVID-19. Protecting diagnosis and treatment areas from the virus must be priority.
“Increasing service capacity is also essential. The introduction of infection control measures means that providing cancer services has become more time and resource intensive.
"Tackling the backlog of those waiting for tests will require more workforce, more equipment and the adoption of other innovations that release capacity into the system."
Dr Gregor Smith, Scotland's interim chief medical officer, said it was vital - despite the delays - that anyone with possible cancer symptoms tell their doctor "so that they can be prioritised as we start to remobilise the NHS and make sure that people are listed for treatment according to clinical need".
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Kate Seymour, Macmillan's head of policy and campaigns, said the figures were "extremely concerning".
She added: “While not all of those waiting for tests will have suspected cancer, many of them will. Waiting to find out whether you have a life-threatening illness is one of the most stressful experiences anyone will endure.
“Being finally diagnosed over three months after being referred for tests adds legitimate worries about how that wait may have impacted on their health and the potential consequences of a more advanced cancer requiring more invasive and debilitating treatment.
"While we know the pandemic has been extremely challenging for the NHS, people with cancer can’t be expected to pay the price.”
Routine screening programmes for breast, bowel, and cervical cancer - paused for the pandemic - have now restarted, and will increase referrals for diagnostic tests.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who confirmed on Monday that she will not stand for re-election as an MSP, said: “We have been making significant progress through delivery of the £850 million Waiting Times Improvement Plan – but that progress has inevitably been affected by the measures we have needed to take to respond to Covid-19.
“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means there are significant operational challenges ahead for the NHS in Scotland, which are reflected in the statistics published today.
“In recent weeks, health boards have been carefully resuming a wide range of services, but the ongoing need for additional infection prevention and control measures means each clinic or theatre session will see fewer patients.
"However, those patients who require urgent, elective and vital cancer treatment have been, and will continue to be, prioritised.”
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