Bowel Cancer UK is highlighting the alarming increase in the number of patients waiting for diagnostic tests shown by figures just released by NHS England for March 2015, indicating serious issues with poor waiting times for bowel cancer patients.

At the end of March 2015, there were 35,245 patients waiting for a colonoscopy, representing an approximate increase of 23 per cent year on year. 

The figures for flexi-sigmoidoscopy are just as alarming; at the end of March 2015, 18,496 patients were waiting for this test, a 20.5 per cent increase year on year.

The key diagnostic tests are colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopies.

These tests can detect cancer at the earliest stage of the disease, when it is more treatable, as well as prevent cancer through the removal of polyps during the procedure.

Nine out of ten people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed in the earliest stages.

That’s why it is crucial that people have timely access to high quality diagnostic tests.

However, latest waiting times figures showed that the NHS failed to meet the national target that less than one per cent of patients should wait six weeks or more from referral to a diagnostic test.

Year on year, the proportion of patients waiting longer than six weeks for a colonoscopy has increased from 2.3 per cent to 5.7 per cent; while the figure for percentage of patients waiting longer than six weeks for a flexi-sigmoidoscopy has gone from 1.8 per cent to 6.8 per cent.

The figures are just as concerning on a local level – 26.6 per cent (59 providers) and 27 per cent (56 providers) of providers for colonoscopy and flexi-sigmoidoscopy failed to meet the operational standard.

Issues in endoscopy services in the UK were highlighted in Bowel Cancer UK’s report published last year, ‘Diagnosing bowel cancer early: right test, right time’ with not just waiting times but also difficulty with varying quality in services being a key issue. 

Not only that, but half of patients do not qualify for an urgent referral.

There is an increasing demand for diagnostic tests due to an ageing population and roll-out of screening programmes, so it’s vital that these issues are resolved before they reach crisis point.

Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said, “These figures are very disappointing. It is unacceptable that patients are being made to wait more than six weeks for a crucial diagnostic test. Waiting for a test is a stressful and uncertain time for anyone.  How soon an individual is seen determines how soon a diagnosis can be made or given the “all clear” and how soon treatment can begin. We know that demand for endoscopy is only going to get higher, so there is an urgent need to ensure that units have the capacity needed to meet that demand.  This is essential if more people are to be diagnosed early.”

Source: Bowel Cancer UK