NHS Winter Crisis

Debate between Jonathan Ashworth and Victoria Prentis

Wednesday 10th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jonathan Ashworth]

I did say that I would try to make progress. It is clear that a lot of Members want to speak, so I will continue if I may. I have been generous in giving way.

Now we are beginning to hear that it is not just routine non-urgent operations being cancelled. Today, The Times reports of a hospital in Oxford considering delaying the start for chemotherapy due to staff shortages and lack of capacity—a four-week delay on all new patients needing chemotherapy—and there are proposals for those on the first cycle to have full chemo, but then discriminate against those on cycles 2, 3 and 4—second, third and fourth-line chemo—giving those patients a reduced number of cycles, which is a two-tier chemotherapy system.

[Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con)]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Jonathan Ashworth]

Let me make some progress.

In The Guardian today, we read the story of Carly O’Neill, who went into hospital for her cancer operation and who was waiting in her gown with wristbands on in the hospital, only to be told her operation would have to be cancelled because there was no bed available.

[Victoria Prentis]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Jonathan Ashworth]

Let me finish the point.

How about my constituent Mr Geoff Brooker, who was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder? He has had his planned operation cancelled twice this winter. When Mr Brooker was asked about the Secretary of State’s apology, he said:

“He may have apologised for postponements but it was as if he was apologising for the cancellation of a jumble sale.”

My constituent went on to say that Ministers were “uncaring” and he blamed “poor planning”. He added:

“If operations like mine are postponed then it’s likely it will cause deaths. The decision could even be the death of me”.

There we have it: cancer patients having operations cancelled and trusts looking at delaying chemotherapy, yet these Ministers sit there with their NHS badges on their lapels. They should be ashamed of what is happening in the NHS today.

[Victoria Prentis]

rose—

[Jonathan Ashworth]

I will give way for the last time and then I will make progress.

[Victoria Prentis]

Goodness knows the hon. Gentleman knows I am no apologist for Oxford University Hospitals Trust, but it is important that we do not make a crisis where there is not one. I have been assured by the University Hospitals Trust today that the leaked memo does not represent the current reality. I, like him, have concerns about recruitment, and I, like him, am worried about the future of recruitment in the NHS, but it is really important that we do not worry current cancer patients who will continue to receive their treatment.

[Jonathan Ashworth]

I thank the hon. Lady for her contribution. The memo was emailed to oncology department staff in the last few days. If the trust is now backing down on that, all of us across the House will welcome it, but the point still stands: the trust was looking at delaying chemotherapy by four weeks and it referred to a lack of staff and capacity. As we know, this trust has cut many, many beds in recent years, including cancer beds and renal beds, and we know that it is under huge pressures.