Welsh Conservatives renew call for action plan to tackle cancer backlog as ‘troubling report released

Welsh Conservatives have reacted to a report today (February  3) that around 3,500 people are  “missing” from treatment services since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, and are reiterating their calls for an action plan and dedicated public awareness campaign by the Welsh Labour Government to ensure people know that services remain open.

Cancer screening services were paused from the start of the pandemic until the end of June 2020, and the report’s authors – Macmillan Cancer Care – has also said that stronger messaging is needed to tell the public the NHS was open to get suspected cancer symptoms checked.

Angela Burns MS – the Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services – said:

“Attention has rightly focused on dealing with the pandemic, but the rise of Coronavirus has not eradicated other diseases and illnesses and so today Welsh Conservatives are renewing our efforts to make the Labour Government here tackle this growing problem and tackle it now.

“I am particularly concerned that, according to Tenovus, another cancer charity, it reports having faced ‘push back’ from Labour ministers over a recovery plan for cancer services. This, following an earlier statement from the Health Minister that it would be ‘foolish’ to have a plan to deal with backlogs before the pandemic is over is deeply troubling.”

Mrs Burns said she was also concerned that the Welsh Labour Government has said a national meeting will be held in the coming weeks to discuss these issues, adding:

“The Health Minister has had months to address the potential other pandemic of missed cancer diagnoses and treatment, so, to read that the Labour still hasn’t got its act together over these backlogs defies belief. The people of Wales need the reassurance from Labour that this potential hidden pandemic will be tackled now and as a priority – not ‘in a few weeks’.”