For over a year people have stayed away from the NHS to protect it, and themselves from COVID-19. Sadly we know that many thousands will have undiagnosed cancer as a result.
Reacting to today’s cancer waiting times, Judi Rhys MBE, Chief Executive at Tenovus Cancer Care, said:
“We welcome today’s latest figures for referrals into the Suspected Cancer Pathway, reporting for the month of May 2021. While we estimate that there remains a significant backlog of undiagnosed cancer in our communities, today’s figures show that for the second month running, the number of people with suspected cancer sent for diagnostic tests has been close to the pre-pandemic levels.
“However encouraging, we also estimate that this nevertheless means that the overall level of the backlog has not reduced.
“We will keep a watchful eye over the coming months as the effect of increasing COVID-19 rates and potential for self-isolation periods, may begin to have a negative impact upon the capacity of NHS Wales to diagnose, treat and support people who come forward with cancer symptoms.”
