Strikes see Colchester Hospital trust cancer appointments rescheduled

From January, 1, 2023 to January, 31, 2024, 7,087 review appointments were rescheduled at the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation trust due to industrial action with 618 of them being cancer related.

While in the same 13 months, 3,768 review appointments were rescheduled due to industrial action - with 51 of them being cancer-related.

Further from January, 1, 2023 to January, 31, 2024, 473 inpatient cases were rescheduled - with 13 of them being cancer-related.

While in the same 13 months, 1,183 day cases were rescheduled with 29 of them being cancer-related.

Cancer - 13 cancer-related inpatient cases and 29 cancer-related day cases were postponed due to strikes (Image: Newsquest)

Hospital boss Nick Hulme admits patients are "anxious enough" without facing having their appointment or procedure cancelled. 

He said: “Our focus during periods of industrial action is to provide safe care for our patients.

“We rebook any postponed elective appointments as quickly as we can so people's tests and treatment are not delayed further."

He added: "In the early days of NHS strike action, we did have to reschedule some planned cancer related appointments.

"Since then, slots have been lost - not cancelled - because we did not book into them in the first place. This is because we knew they would not be available.

Lost - Nick Hulme ESNEFT CEO said due to strikes slots had been lost and not cancelled as the trust could not book them in the first place (Image: Newsquest)

"Patients with cancer or suspected cancer are anxious enough. We do not want to add to that by calling them one day to book their procedure or appointment, and then calling back the next day to cancel it. It's simply not fair.

"We have always been very honest about the number of appointments lost due to strike action. This is where we have noticed a real impact across all our services."

Roshan Rupra, Co-Chair of the East of England Regional Junior Doctors Committee said: “Any delays that cancer patients face when waiting for treatment or diagnosis are a source of real concern.

“It’s why we always give notice to trusts ahead of strike days so they can prepare and reschedule appropriately, prioritising the most urgent cases. And it’s why we’ve spoken out again and again about delays and waiting lists across services, including cancer treatment and diagnostics, caused by years of underinvestment and understaffing.

"Indeed the NHS’s cancer targets have been missed every year since 2015, long before this dispute began."

Mr Rupra added: “Any disruption from strikes, in Essex and across England, is completely avoidable.

“We remain willing to carry on talking and to cancel the forthcoming strikes if significant progress is made and a credible offer is put forward by the Government.

“Doctors are taking industrial action because we know that without valuing doctors, whose skills and expertise are needed to deliver cancer care, they will continue to leave the NHS. Without enough doctors, patients will continue to bear the brunt.”