Public patients wait 10 weeks more for cancer tests

PUBLIC patients are waiting up to 10 weeks longer than those who can pay for cancer diagnostic tests, a new study reveals.

A joint Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and Irish Cancer Society (ICS) study involving almost 1,000 GPs across the country found that 70% of public patients waited two to 12 weeks for a gastrointestinal tract investigation while 62% of private patients waited less than two weeks for the same test.

And while 75% of private patients waited less than two weeks for an abdominal or pelvic ultrasound test, 60% of public patients had to wait two to 12 weeks.

Lack of direct GP access to x-ray and endoscopy services and poor communication with hospital staff were identified as significant barriers to the early detection of cancer.

ICS nursing services manager Joan Kelly said the report by Drs Helena Daly and Claire Collins of the ICGP underlined the need to eliminate inequity of access to public hospital services between public and private patients.

The ICGP and ICS have called on the Department of Health and Health Service Executive to ensure improved GP access to investigations; provide rapid access facilities for patients with suspected cancer and cut waiting time for assessment.

Ms Kelly said a major problem for GPs was arranging very general tests like an abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy or chest x-ray for a patient showing vague symptoms of cancer, such as weight loss, nausea or altered bowel habit.

“We are trying to educate the public to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and to go to their doctor immediately if they feel they have a problem. Now we find they have a problem accessing diagnostic tests,” she said.