Strange that the Torygraph only reported this historical data AFTER the May election and that the article says this is despite money invested in early diagnosis ignoring the fact that there is always a several month time lag between government announcing new spending and the money actually being spent :-)
I was at a conference in Belfast during March where these figures were first published. One of the probable factors identified at the conference was a reluctance by UK GPs to refer patients for testing on first complaining to the GP of cancer symptoms due to NICE guidelines which were then in place, which meant most UK cancer referrals only took place after at least 3 trips to the GP. In comparison Scandinavian and German GPs almost always referred on after the first GP appointment Those NICE guidelines have since been amended, but it is still to early to tell whether this has had a significant impact on survival rates - again these changes take several months, if not years, to have an impact.
Its poor to say the least. I had a perfectly curable cancer but for the slow diagnosis and even longer waits for surgery and further treatment. Now I have a metastatic cancer that will not be cured. The problem is lack of funding for NHS. 2 pence on VAT or income tax to be wholly directed at health care would solve it. I would gladly pay it. But the political will is not there. While £100 million was removed from the cancer drug fund the same amount was made available for the current crisis in the news. Kim
