Some of Greater Manchester’s major hospitals have the highest numbers of deaths due to delayed cancer diagnosis and misdiagnosis in the UK.
There have been six deaths in the last three years among patients of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA), which runs hospitals including Salford Royal Hospital, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary and the Royal Oldham Hospital.
Last year, Cancer Research UK warned that the UK’s progress in treating the disease is at risk of stalling due to slow and late diagnosis coupled with treatment delays. And just last month, England’s NHS ombudsman warned that cancer patients could be put at risk ‘because of over-stretched and exhausted health staff working in a system at breaking point’.
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The ombudsman called for immediate government action after research into cancer complaints frequently pointed to misdiagnosis and treatment delays.
Following the statement from the health ombudsman, Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) were sent to every NHS trust in the UK by legal firm Medical Negligence Assist. The FOIs revealed the number of fatalities because of delayed cancer diagnosis or misdiagnosis between 2021, up to and including any instances in 2024.
Of the 124 NHS trusts that were contacted, 71 per cent provided full responses to the requests for information, according to Medical Negligence Assist. The most fatalities due to cancer delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis were recorded by the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with 10 deaths.
Greater Manchester’s Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust recorded the UK’s second highest figures, with a total of six deaths between 2021 and 2024.
Two deaths were recorded in 2021, followed by a further three in 2022. Another fatality was also confirmed for 2023. So far this year, as of April 2024 there have been no reported deaths due to delays in cancer diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
Medical Negligence Assist says 10 trusts denied the request either due to the request exceeding appropriate costs for retrieving the information, or because their systems do not hold the information or allow their data to be aggregated in a way that would sufficiently answer the request.
Multiple NHS trusts did not confirm specific numbers due to concerns about patient confidentiality but did provide estimated figures. The following trusts confirmed ‘fewer that five fatalities’:
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Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
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Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
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Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
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Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
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Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
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Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
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Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
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South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
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St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
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University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
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Whittington Health NHS Trust
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Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
Liez Fletcher-Parker, Lead Cancer Manager Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust said: “Waiting for cancer diagnosis and treatment is a worrying time for patients and we recognise that we are not where we would like to be. Our recent data show that our referral time for cancer diagnosis has improved.
“We are doing even more testing, this being possible as a result of the opening of Community Diagnostic Centres in Salford and Oldham and improved access to CT and MR tests allowing for earlier diagnosis.
“The work does not stop here, and we are constantly working together as an integrated system in Greater Manchester looking at ways to improve cancer care for patients.”
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh trust and NHS England have been contacted for comment.
NHS data for England as a whole shows that only 74.2 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer in December 2023 received a diagnosis or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, failing to meet the 75 per cent target.
Rob Behrens, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, called for “concerted and sustained action from the government” to ensure NHS leaders can focus on safeguarding patients.
“Patient safety will always be at risk in environments that are understaffed and where staff are exhausted and under unsustainable pressure,” he said.
The ombudsman revealed that between April 2020 and December 2023, his office carried out 1,019 investigations related to cancer. Of those 185 were upheld or partly upheld. Issues with diagnosis and treatment were the most common cancer-related issues investigated, including treatment delays, misdiagnosis, failure to identify cancer, the mismanagement of conditions, and pain management.
On April 11, Cancer Research UK produced a report on the latest cancer waiting times in England, saying: “Once again, the cancer waiting times published today represent unacceptable waits for cancer patients.”
The Cancer Research UK report adds: “Behind every one of these missed targets are patients, friends, family and loved ones who are facing unacceptably long and anxious waits to find out if they have cancer and when they can begin treatment.
“Whilst it is welcome that the Faster Diagnostic Standard (FDS) of 75 per cent has been met, which is testament to the hard work of NHS staff in responding to growing demands for diagnostic tests, the 75 per cent target is set well below the originally recommended target of 95 per cent. We have not seen all cancer waiting times met since 2015 which represents a long-term failure to plan and invest in the NHS workforce and key facilities and equipment.”
Medical Negligence Assist has a team of experts at hand to offer professional advice for anyone who has suffered medical negligence. They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “NHS staff are working hard to ensure that everyone affected by cancer receives a prompt diagnosis.
“The NHS is diagnosing more people than ever for cancers at an early stage and, for the first time, over three million people were referred by GPs for potentially lifesaving cancer checks last year. Amid record demand in February 2024, the NHS also exceeded the Faster Diagnosis Standard target for cancer with 78% of people diagnosed within 28 days of their GP’s referral.
“It is vital that people come forward if they are concerned about cancer symptoms – getting checked saves lives.”
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
