RCS raises concern over cancelled cancer operations

The Royal College of Surgeons has raised concerned about the number of cancer patients having their operations cancelled amid growing pressure on the NHS in England this winter.

Guidelines for hospitals in England direct that cancer patients should be seen within 31 days and receive primary treatment within 62.

However, NHS statistics for the most recent available period, November 2016, has shown that the 62-day target for treatment to start was missed - with 83.5 per cent of patients being treated in that timeframe instead of 85 per cent.

In an interview with the BBC, Ian Eardley vice president of the RCS, said: "There are current pressures - since Christmas particularly - and the number of cancelled operations has been going up.

"The NHS is under tremendous pressure - more and more patients are going to A&E and there is more difficulty in getting patients home, and it's not something we are comfortable with at all.

"If we could get patients home more quickly and effectively, we could carry on with doing surgery more quickly and more effectively."

Commenting on the incidence of cancelled cancer operations, Richard Murray, director of policy at The King's Fund think tank, commented: “There are not enough beds, there are more patients arriving and hospitals are not able to discharge them quickly, particularly for specialisms like orthopaedics.

"You should never cancel operations on the day for non-clinical reasons, but especially for cancer treatment. It causes distress for patients and it's an urgent pathway. Critically, it becomes how quickly you can rebook."

Meanwhile, Dr Moira Fraser, director of policy and public affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support said: "Nobody should have to go through the distress of making emotional and practical preparations for an operation only to have it cancelled."