paullynchmedia / diagnostic_scan_backlog

Millions of potentially life-saving scans were missed during the first six months of the pandemic.

Diagnostic_scan_backlog

Millions of potentially life-saving scans were missed during the first six months of the pandemic.

In December, 2020, the shared data unit found millions of people missed out on potentially life-saving scans when non-Covid NHS services ground to a halt during the pandemic.

Analysis of official figures found at least 4.4m less diagnostic imaging scans were carried out in England in the six months between April and September 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

Analysis also revealed a wide variation in how hospitals were rebuilding capacity.

In one hospital, almost 80% of patients were waiting more than six weeks for a scan compared to zero in 2020.

In the North West, one in three patients were waiting more than six weeks for a scan, compared to one in five in the South East.

In Scotland, almost half (47%) of those in need of key diagnostic tests in Scotland were waiting more than the six-week recommended limit.

While the NHS and professional bodies said hospitals were forced to cancel elective appointments to limit patients in wards, the pandemic exposed flaws in the health service’s ability to diagnose serious conditions early, experts said.

Two top radiologists said an historical lack of staff, as well as a shortage in CT and MRI scanners, had been “exacerbated” by Covid-19.

Methodology

For England we used two statistical datasets released by NHS England: The monthly Diagnostic Imaging Dataset (DID) and the monthly waiting times and activity dataset (DM01).

We used the DID to compare the overall number of diagnostic scans carried out at hospital trusts over a six month period - April to September, 2020. We then compared the totals with the same period in 2019. We also collected waiting times figures for the same period of time.

Waiting times data was also obtained for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for the same six-month period.

Data

We shared a briefing pack, which included:

• Analysis of waiting time figures for diagnostic scans in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including breakdowns by region and by trust.

• Analysis of the total scans carried out during the first six months of the pandemic in England, compared to the same period in 2019. These are broken down by trust and region.

• Expert comments from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), The British Institute for Radiology (BIR) and Cancer Research UK.

• Responses to the figures from NHS England, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

• A spreadsheet containing trust-level figures in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Partner usage

The story was featured on BBC Online, BBC Radio Four, BBC Radio Two, BBC News at One and regional radio stations across the UK.

The BBC Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to the wider news industry as part of the BBC Local News Partnership.

Stories written in print and online by partners based on this research included:

• The Bolton News: Waiting times for vital appointments at Bolton hospitals double, 18th December, 2020.

• Kidderminster Shuttle: Worcestershire hospitals trying to spped up return of non-Covid services, 20th December 2020.

• You Harlow: Worrying delays in Harlow residents waiting for cancer scans 19th December, 2020.

• Bromsgrove Advertiser Worcestershire hospitals trying to speed up return of non-Covid services 20th December, 2020.

• Island Echo: Covid leads to diagnostic scanning backlog on the Isle of Wight 20th December 2020.

• In Your Area: Thousands in Cambs missed out on life-saving scans as non-Covid NHS services halted 17th December, 2020.

• On the Wight: Isle of Wight diagnostic scans down more than 15,000 on same period in 201917th December, 2020.

• Northampton Chronicle and Echo: Tens of thousands missed out on life-saving cancer scans 17th December, 2020.

• County Press: Extra scanners mean performance getting back on track 17th December, 2020.

• Yorkshire Post: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Truts has 34 per cent drop in cancer diagnostic scans 17th December, 2020.

• Wirral GLobe: Vital diagnostic scans down 33% in Wirral due to Covid 17th December, 2020.

• Portsmouth News: Health scan waiting lists across Hampshire hospitals rise due to Covid-19 pressures 17th December, 2020.

• ITV News: Key hospital scans fell by 32 per cent in East of England during first six months of pandemic 17th December 2020.

• Leader Live: Three out of five North Wales patients waiting eight weeks for scans17th December, 2020.

• Worcester News: Worcester cancer survicor says fewer NHS scans cost lives 17th December 2020.

• Epping Forest Guardian: Thousands caught up in coronavirus cancer scan backlog 22nd December, 2020.