Doncaster breast patients to be sent to Barnsley after major backlog of cases revealed

It means a number of patients will have to travel to Barnsley while doctors work to reverse the backlog that has developed.

Officials at Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group became concerned when November figures revealed only 18.2 per cent of patients referred urgently by GPs with breast symptoms were being seen for outpatient appointment within two weeks – the target is 93 per cent.

It meant 27 people waited longer than two weeks out of 33 people referred.

The CCG’s board of governors were told at their February meeting that although there has been an increase in referrals into the breast service, the numbers referred still remained under previous baselines for 2019/20.

The main impact of breaches had been due to social distancing and a reduction in the number of radiographers that were currently working.

Dr Marco Pieri told the meeting Doncaster has in the past had a good record on the work.

He said: “Unusually, we’re falling below the national average.

"In the past they have been fantastic, over 93 per cent for years and years. The last two months have been very different.”

He said the data had coincided with a period at the peak of the pandemic in Doncaster, and had an impact on staff and patients, and the system was under immense pressure for two months.

He said demand had doubled, and the impact of the original lockdown in the spring had contributed to that. Covid safety measures had meant that flexibility was lost.

The appointments that were at the heart of the issue were lengthy, and required social distancing and cleaning between patients. He said there was a mutual support scheme in place with other hospitals in the region, and 20 women a week would be seen in Barnsley.

Dr Pieri said the service would work through the backlog and restore it to its previous level of performance.

CCG chairman Dr David Crichton told the meeting: “We have taken action and want to reassure people. It shows a different way of working, that we can call upon our neighbours.”

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