Data from NHS Resolution, the organisation which deals with medical negligence claims for the NHS, has revealed a significant increase in compensation payments related to delayed diagnosis of cancer since the pandemic.  

In the 4 years since the pandemic, there have been 1,125 compensation payments worth £135 million, compared to 580 payments worth £55 million in the 4 years prior. Since the pandemic, this upward trajectory has continued, with the compensation paid having risen further by approaching £10 million between 2021/22 and 2023/24.

This increase is likely contributed to by the after effects of the pandemic, during which access to medical care was more challenging and waiting times significantly increased, alongside the widely commented upon issues within the NHS generally, as set out in the Darzi report.  

Irrespective of the cause, the statistics clearly demonstrate that cancer care is not achieving the standards that it needs to and that the growing number of compensation payments show that lessons are not being learned. What is fundamental to this is that, as a result of these failings, people with cancer are paying the price.

A cancer diagnosis is devastating enough for a person and their loved ones but it is a cruel blow to find out that there were avoidable failings in the care that have left them worse off. Earlier diagnosis gives the best possible chance of a recovery from cancer and it is truly heart-breaking when people face a much worse prognosis from cancer which would have been able to be cured with earlier diagnosis and treatment. No amount of compensation can ever truly make up for this but it can help to provide peace of mind and we also recognise the importance of getting answers and justice for those who have been let down. 

If you or a loved one have suffered a delay in diagnosis of cancer and would like to speak to one of our clinical negligence team members about a potential claim, we are here to help.