1560 people locally left waiting two months to start cancer treatment
New research from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 1,560 people locally were stuck waiting for more than two months before receiving treatment at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
These figures meant, in 2022, at The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 56% had to wait more than two months for treatment to start.
Liberal Democrats in Leicestershire have called these new figures "horrifying".
Nationally, more than 66,000 patients were forced to wait more than two months for their first treatment last year after a referral.
Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to hire more staff, especially specialist cancer nurses. The party is also calling for a comprehensive strategy to ensure all those who have been left behind are offered timely cancer diagnosis and treatment and that targets be met as soon as possible.
Commenting on cancer waiting times locally leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County Council Liberal Democrat Michael Mullaney said:
"The Government has been driving our local health services into the ground and taking patients for granted for years, our area deserves better.
"Delays to cancer diagnoses and treatments are incredibly distressing for those with cancer and those who fear they may have it.
"This Conservative Government has its head in the sand over staff shortages and no real plan to fix it.
"They must get a handle on this crisis so cancer patients get the urgent care they need to give them the best chance of survival and recovery."
A Hinckley County Councillor has renewed calls for a safe road crossing to be installed near a Hinckley School.
Lib Dem Councillor for Hinckley De Montfort Michael Mullaney has campaigned with local parents, residents and fellow Hinckley Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray to get a safe crossing near St Peter’s School on London Road, Hinckley.
This follows news that Leicestershire County Council have again decided against putting a crossing there.
In a written submission to the County Council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Michael Mullaney set out why a crossing was still needed there
“A huge number of residents in the area I represent on the County Council and the area my two fellow Hinckley County Councillors David Bill and Stuart Bray represent support a safe crossing at St Peter’s School on London Road in Hinckley. 8,850 residents signed a petition supporting the campaign.
“There are safety concerns, there have been a number of near misses involving pupils and parents going to the school. Although not recorded it is believed that there was an accident leading to a fatality some years ago along this part of London Road when a pedestrian was knocked over.
“Whilst I appreciate the extra road safety measures that are proposed for London Road near St Peter’s School I am extremely disappointed that the request for a safe road crossing has not been supported in the report.
“There is widespread support for it and Cllrs Bill, Bray and myself identified funding for putting a crossing in at the site through the Members Highway Fund, a fund which was developed with the apparent intention of supporting Highways causes that were important in Councillor’s local areas.
“Whilst it’s welcome that a crossing person has been recruited for St Peter’s School there is always the risk that the person may step down from the job and it may be difficult to find a new person (as it took some years to recruit a crossing person there, with no school crossing patrol between 2017 and 2022 despite attempts to recruit to the post). A safe pedestrian crossing at the site however would be a permanent safety measure that would benefit pupils and parents and residents more generally crossing the road there.
“Whilst I welcome the fact there will be some safety improvements at the site I and many residents believe there still needs to be a safe permanent crossing at St Peter’s School. I therefore urge the County Council to rethink and agree to installing a crossing near St Peter’s School”
