Local NHS fails cancer wait time target as 689 people wait more than two weeks to see a specialist.
689 local people had to wait more than two weeks to see a cancer specialist after a GP referral, new analysis of NHS data by Leicestershire's Liberal Democrats has found.
While the NHS target is for 93% of patients to see a cancer specialist after a referral, locally this was the case for just 84% of patients.
Leicestershire Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to bring forward an urgent plan to improve cancer care in light of the revelations.
Nationwide, 108 NHS trusts miss the two week cancer referral target. A staggering 62,360 people had to wait more than two weeks to see a cancer specialist after a GP referral in August alone.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County Council Councillor Michael Mullaney said:
"It is deeply upsetting that so many people in Leicestershire are being let down. Early cancer diagnosis is crucial, and too few are seeing a specialist in good time.
"The government has failed to come up with a proper plan to help people as targets for waiting times are missed month after month in our area.
"Our NHS is being run into the ground, from ballooning ambulance waits to understaffed hospitals, and this Conservative government has done little but shrug its shoulders. It's just not good enough and people here deserve better.
"We need an urgent plan to improve cancer care and to save our local health services. People are worried sick about what could happen if they get a terrible diagnosis too late. More inaction is not an option."
Official target from the NHS is that 93% of people should see a consultant within 14 days from urgent GP referral with suspected cancer. In the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust it was 689 cases of people waiting longer or just 84% of people being seen within 14 days. In the George Eliot NHS Trust the figures were even more worrying with over a third of people missing the two week target. With 194 cases of people waiting for longer than the two weeks
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”
