Royal Oldham NHS trust confirms deaths from cancer delays

The Northern Care Alliance (NCA) NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed it logged six deaths between 2021 and 2024 due to delays in cancer diagnosis and misdiagnosis. 

The trust was also found to have the second highest figures out of all trusts in the country behind that of only The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which reported 10 fatalities in the same time period.

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The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust also recorded six deaths.

A spokesperson for the NCA, which runs the four hospital sites of Salford Royal Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury and Royal Oldham Hospital, said the trust recognises it is "not where we would like to be" with patients waiting for a cancer diagnosis and treatment but that referral times for diagnosis has recently improved.

The figures, obtained through a freedom of information request following a UK-wide investigation by Medical Negligence Assist (MNA), reveal two deaths were recorded in 2021 followed by a further three in 2022.

Another fatality was also confirmed for 2023.

So far this year as of April 2024, there have been no reported deaths due to delays in cancer diagnosis or misdiagnosis, according to the trust.

The figures show the NCA has some of the highest fatalities across the country (Image: MNA)

Of the total 124 NHS Trusts the MNA contacted, 71 per cent provided full responses to the requests while 10 trusts declined to respond.

This was either due to the request exceeding appropriate costs for retrieving information or because their systems do not hold the information or allow their data to be aggregated in a way that would sufficiently answer the request.

Multiple NHS Trusts also did not confirm specific numbers due to concerns about patient confidentiality but did provide estimated figures.

However, the alarming figures come as Cancer Research UK warned in November last year that the UK's progress in treating the disease is at risk of stalling due to slow and late diagnosis coupled with treatment delays.

Separate NHS England data further shows that only 74.2 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer in December 2023 received a diagnosis or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, failing to meet the 75 per cent target.

In a Cancer Research UK report, the charity said waiting times for cancer patients is "unacceptable".

It added: “Behind every one of these missed targets are patients, friends, family and loved ones who are facing unacceptably long and anxious waits to find out if they have cancer and when they can begin treatment.  

"We have not seen all cancer waiting times met since 2015 which represents a long-term failure to plan and invest in the NHS workforce and key facilities and equipment.”

Rob Behrens, England’s Health Ombudsman, also called for immediate government action and stressed the imperative of safe and effective care within the NHS.

He said: “Patient safety will always be at risk in environments that are understaffed and where staff are exhausted and under unsustainable pressure."

Head of Medical Negligence at MNA, Nick Banks added: “Whilst claiming against medical insurance agencies can seem daunting, such claims are the best way to ensure funding is made available for all of the patient’s short-term and longer-term needs. 

“This can make a real difference to how quickly that patient is able to regain their former quality of life.

“Bringing such claims can also help the medical profession to identify important areas of improvement, hopefully ensuring that no future patients ever fall victim to the same mistakes.”

Liez Fletcher-Parker, Lead Cancer Manager Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust also said: "Waiting for cancer diagnosis and treatment is a worrying time for patients and we recognise that we are not where we would like to be.

"Our recent data show that our referral time for cancer diagnosis has improved.   

"We are doing even more testing, this being possible as a result of the opening of Community Diagnostic Centres in Salford and Oldham and improved access to CT and MRI tests allowing for earlier diagnosis. 

"The work does not stop here, and we are constantly working together as an integrated system in Greater Manchester looking at ways to improve cancer care for patients." 

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