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The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on suspected head and neck cancer two-week-wait referrals

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2021

N Bhamra ,
B Gorman ,
W Arnold ,
A Rajah ,
K Jolly ,
H Nieto ,
J Fussey  and
L Liew
N Bhamra*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
B Gorman
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
W Arnold
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
A Rajah
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, UK
K Jolly
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
H Nieto
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, UK
J Fussey
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
L Liew
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Navdeep Bhamra, Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, WolverhamptonWV10 0QP, UK E-mail: navdeepbhamra@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 extends far beyond the immediate burden on healthcare systems caused by hospitalisation of patients with the disease itself.

Objective

To investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the referral rate of patients to the suspected head and neck cancer two-week-wait clinic.

Methods

A multicentre retrospective study was performed investigating data collected for all patients attending the suspected head and neck cancer two-week-wait clinic in ENT departments in the West Midlands.

Results

A total of 509 fast-track referrals were received from February to April in 2019, compared to 399 referrals in 2020. April 2020 saw a 62.4 per cent reduction in referral rate compared to April 2019.

Conclusion

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in changes to health-seeking behaviours, and healthcare provision and delivery. Urgent policy interventions may be required to compensate for the hidden impact that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has had on those with cancer.

Keywords

COVID-19CancerReferralsCOVID-19 Pandemic
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 3 , March 2022 , pp. 248 - 251
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr N Bhamra takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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