Breast cancer service now achieving referral targets in Blackpool
Blackpool’s breast cancer service is now meeting its targets to ensure all patients are diagnosed quickly – nearly two years after long waiting times came in for heavy criticism from councillors.
In November 2018 it was reported only 25 per cent of patients referred from their GP with breast cancer symptoms were seen within the required time of two weeks when the target was 93 per cent.
Figures from the latest performance report of the Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) show by March this year, the referral rate had increased to just over 60 per cent.
Kate Newton, quality and performance manager at Blackpool CCG, told a meeting of the council’s adult social care and health scrutiny committee, the rate had increased further to nearly 99 per cent in August and September.
She said the measures put in place to improve the service had been “incredibly successful”.
Health authorities have invested £500,000 including in providing a second mammography and ultrasound machine, while recruitment of staff including radiographers has also been addressed.
Lack of consultants had been among the issues blamed for the long waiting times.
Coun Adrian Hutton was among councillors who branded the situation “unacceptable” when it was reported to the health committee in 2018.
While the breast cancer service has improved, the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic has seen a fall in the overall number of patients being seen by the hospital within target times.
Latest figures show only about half of patients are being treated at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals within the required time of 18 weeks compared to a target of 92 per cent.
Councillors were told this reflected issues including the inability to carry out some internal examinations such as endoscopies due to Covid, plus a reduction in routine surgery, although more services are now being reintroduced.
Private sector capacity provided by the Spire Fylde Coast Hospital in Blackpool is also being used to ease the situation.
Ms Newton said cancer patients were now being seen more quickly with consultations either face to face, or using virtual technology.
However, she added around 30 per cent of patients being contacted “are choosing not to come into hospital at the moment.”