A ‘MASSIVE’ drop in GP cancer referrals during coronavirus has led Oxfordshire’s doctors to urge people not to ignore symptoms.

Dr Shelley Hayles, planned care and cancer clinical lead for Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said people were ‘understandably’ focused on coronavirus but it was ‘very concerning’ to see referrals had ‘dropped off massively’ due to fewer people seeking advice from their GP.

Last week, Dame Cally Palmer, national cancer director for NHS England, said two-week referrals from GPs were down 62 per cent and Dr Hayles said Oxfordshire was ‘broadly in line’ with this.

Oxford Mail:

Dr Shelley Hayles

Dr Hayles stressed people should not worry about ‘being a bother’ to GPs and they would be ‘delighted’ to have a conversation about any cancer concerns.

She added: “We know that finding cancer early gives us the best chance to cure it, and ignoring potential problems can have serious consequences now or in the future.”

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Dr Kiren Collison, clinical chair of Oxfordshire CCG, said: “We strongly encourage anyone with concerns or worries about their health to contact their GP for advice.

"If you are worried about any new symptoms, then please get in touch with your surgery."

She added: “We will be able to reassure you or if necessary get you to see a specialist quickly and safely. It is important to remember that the sooner cancer symptoms are picked up and treated, the better.”

Initial telephone consultations or via video mean people do not necessarily need to go to GP surgeries for check-ups, and if they do need to be seen in person then there will be measures in place to keep patients safe.

Oxford Mail:

Dr Hayles said: “NHS staff here in Oxfordshire have made huge efforts to deal with coronavirus but we are also working hard to ensure patients can get essential services such as cancer checks and urgent surgery safely."

She added: “The wishes of patients and their families will always come first, and we have to make sure that people feel safe coming to GP practices and hospitals, but our message is clear: people should seek help as they always would."

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Oxfordshire’s cancer diagnostics and treatment centres are based at Oxford's Churchill Hospital, which is a regional centre of excellence, as well as other specialist services in the John Radcliffe and Horton General Hospitals.

Nick Maynard, cancer lead at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals, said: “We have been working incredibly hard at our trust to make sure that we can still provide urgent cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do, and we have made every effort to make sure that cancer treatment at our Trust is supported by robust shielding and screening procedures to protect our patients against Covid-19.”