![]() In January, more than 7,000 people with cancer in England waited more than two months to start treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer – the highest monthly figure on record for this target. The latest statistics show that thousands of people with cancer or suspected cancer are not receiving the rapid care they need. ![]() Macmillan is answering tens of these calls each month, but fears this figure is “only going to increase because the Government hasn’t yet offered a plan and a set of solutions to tackle the immediate pressures facing cancer services”, added Mr McIntosh. Mr McIntosh said it was “the first time” in the charity’s history that it had received “crisis calls” from stretched NHS professionals requesting help. 'Desperate NHS staff end up ringing Macmillan' The patient was subsequently directed by Macmillan to accident and emergency.Īlthough Macmillan has an existing relationship with the NHS and provides emotional and practical advice for cancer patients in the community, it does not offer clinical care or emergency support. ![]() The NHS worker asked the charity if they could care for the patient and whether Macmillan would be able to admit them to a cancer ward, despite not having any such facilities. ![]() In one recent case shared with The Telegraph, a paramedic rang Macmillan on behalf of a liver cancer patient who had suffered a hypoglycaemic attack. “Macmillan is starting to receive calls from paramedics who aren’t able to reach the key parts of the NHS and are asking us on the phone to try to step in to offer advice to patients in these emergencies,” said Steven McIntosh, Macmillan's executive director of advocacy and communications. However, paramedics called to respond are themselves unable to provide or find support for the patients, and instead turn to Macmillan’s hotline, the charity added. These individuals are subsequently calling 999 for help. Macmillan said patients who are experiencing complications or extreme pain due to recent treatments have been struggling to reach the NHS’s dedicated hospital teams for advice and rapid care, which have become overwhelmed in the wake of the pandemic. Desperate NHS staff are calling charity workers for help with cancer patients in need of urgent support or emergency care, it has emerged.
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