As one of the most prevalent, life-threatening medical conditions, cancer demands a high quality of care and treatment to ensure that patients have the best chance of a recovery, or lives can be put at risk. An early diagnosis is also vital to ensure that the progression of the disease can be stopped in its tracks. In cases where the opportunity for early diagnosis or treatment is missed, patients may be able to claim compensation for cancer medical negligence cases.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, countless appointments, treatments and surgeries related to cancer have been cancelled or rescheduled, producing a knock-on impact on the overall effectiveness of NHS cancer treatment. While priorities may have had to change to meet the demands of controlling the virus, some have raised concerns that the pendulum has swung too far in this direction, potentially causing unnecessary harm to those affected.
Generally speaking, patients may still be well within their rights to make a compensation claim, so we can advise anyone who thinks they may have been affected by medical negligence related to cancer treatment.
The cost of coronavirus delays
As of June last year, Cancer Research UK reported that approximately 2.4 million people in the UK have been left waiting for cancer screenings, further cancer tests and treatment. The backlog for this has been exacerbated by the disruption which coronavirus has caused.
This includes urgent referrals that could have detected tens of thousands of cancers, it is understood.
The reported backlogs created by the intermittent national lockdowns and redirection of resources have left some in extreme pain and with spreading cancer, both of which are capable of causing extreme distress to those affected. Some patients are increasingly fearful of the long-term damage to their health. The cancellations have reportedly included operations scheduled months in advance, timed in order to target cancer at the optimal time. The true scale of any missed opportunities may not be revealed until the pandemic is brought fully under control.
Future Inquiry
With the Patients Association planning a future inquiry to review how serious illnesses during the coronavirus pandemic were handled, the impact for patients when it comes to delayed treatment may be something that is addressed as part of this.
An after-the-fact inquiry may be too little too late for many patients, and we must account for the issues of resources being directed accordingly during what is an incredibly unusual time.
Claiming compensation for cancer issues
Evaluating medical negligence cases does involve a great deal of accounting for the circumstances at hand, especially when the NHS is facing exceptional circumstances. That being said, there are still many factors that should be well within the NHS’s control, and these are factors that we can assess when people have been harmed.
If it is ever found that negligence has harmfully impacted the standard of your cancer care, you may be eligible to claim compensation for the pain, suffering and inconvenience caused, and even for the costs of any private treatment that you may require. If you wish to enquire about claiming compensation for cancer treatment, contact us today for free, no-obligation advice about your potential case.
When lives are at stake, it is important to make sure that negligent medical treatment is answered for, and that is where we may be able to help. Claiming compensation for cancer treatment negligence could be the only help victims have when it comes to holding those responsible to account.