ONE in four women waited over a fortnight for an urgent breast cancer referral last year, according to new analysis from Labour.
The shocking figures comes as MPs warn women are paying the price of “dangerous” failures in the NHS.
GettyOne in four women waited over a fortnight for an urgent breast cancer referral in the year to September 2022[/caption]
Twice as many women are waiting over a year for gynaecology treatments since 2021.
And around 740,000 women are waiting more than 28 days for a GP appointment – a rise of 30% since last year.
According to government targets women suspected of having breast cancer should urgently be referred to a specialist in two weeks.
Labour has warned women face a “dangerous postcode lottery” when it comes to life changing medical appointments.
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Last year in the North East and Yorkshire 90% of women with suspected breast cancer were seen on time.
But that dropped to 61% in the North West and 57% cent in the South West.
Meanwhile, the waiting list for gynaecology referrals in the Midlands was 40% higher than in the South East.
Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Anneliese Dodds said: “Women are paying the price for 13 years of abject failure, often waiting in pain and anxiety. They can’t even get to see their GP, let alone see a hospital specialist for treatment.
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“The idea that someone with suspected breast cancer can be left waiting for weeks on end for a consultation is heartbreaking. The fact that it is commonplace is disgraceful.
“Labour will reform the NHS and train thousands more doctors, nurses and midwives each year, so patients can be treated on time again, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax exemption.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Health said: “We do not recognise many of these claims. There were over 90,000 more GP appointments every day in 2022 compared to 2021.
“The 62-day cancer backlog has fallen 20% since peaking in 2020 and the latest figures show a higher percentage of people were seen earlier in December compared to November – but we acknowledge there is more to do.
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“There are record numbers of GPs in training and we are investing at least £1.5 billion to create 50 million more appointments a year by 2024.
“We have also put women’s health at the top of the agenda as part of the first-ever government-led women’s health strategy for England.”