Cancer charities say slow diagnosis times in West Midlands should be investigated
New NHS data finds only 68% of patients in our region were assessed and diagnosed within the standard 28 days.
Last updated 25th Oct 2024
The chair of a Shropshire cancer support group says an investigation should be done into why people in the West Midlands face the longest waits for cancer diagnoses in England.
It's after new data from the NHS data found 32% of patients in the West Midlands are diagnosed later than the 28-day diagnosis standard.
Rosemary Wood, the chair of the Ludlow Cancer Support Group, said the reasons behind the slower diagnosis times should be investigated.
"Statistically it's disappointing, but the question we should be asking are how do we amend and reduce it - rather than looking at league tables, which can be meaningless," she said.
"It's a horrible time for patients and families, and one suggestion was why can't the tests be done in parallel rather than in sequence?"
NHS West Midlands Cancer Alliance website said: "6.5 million people live in the West Midlands. 600 cancer cases are diagnosed per 100,000 people every year – this is set to increase as our population ages. By 2030 there will be some 135,000 people living with and beyond cancer."
Rosemary told us steps can already be taken to increase diagnosis times.
"We may be bottom of the table but there could well be things like common sense and communication that could be improved to alleviate the problem."
The government said it plans to set up community-based neighbourhood health services where people can access screenings and tests.
It says it also plans to double the number of diagnostic scanners - which detect cancer - in the NHS.