Top cancer specialist admits 'manipulating waiting lists' » Health » 24dash.com

A senior cancer specialist admitted today giving patients unnecessary treatments to manipulate hospital waiting lists.

Chris Hamilton, consultant clinical oncologist at Hull's Princess Royal Hospital, told the BBC the problem was a government requirement that all treatment began within 31 days of diagnosis.

He says it means some low-risk patients are being treated before more urgent cases.

Mr Hamilton told the BBC he had given some prostate cancer patients hormone therapy to move them down the waiting list.

He said: "You're caught in a bind. Either you give them unnecessary treatment with hormones and reify them or you put them to the front of the queue where they shouldn't really be."

He added that he knew other hospitals were carrying out a similar practice and he had informed national cancer director Mike Richards.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "If there is a clinical reason for not starting treatment within the four week guideline or the patient does not want to start treatment immediately there is clear provision within the guidance for the patient to be taken out of the list."

The Prostate Cancer Charity condemned Mr Hamilton's claims saying it was "deeply unethical" to give patients treatment they did not need.

Dr Chris Hiley, head of policy and research, said: "It would be totally unacceptable if hormone treatment were being prescribed for men with prostate cancer simply in order to meet treatment target times - when it is not required to treat their cancer.

"It has nothing to do with patient centred care or good medicine.

"When men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, they need personal support and timely treatment.

"Providing the wrong treatment to meet NHS targets shows no regard for what patients need - the right treatment given at the right time with care and respect."

Dr Hiley said there was no benefits - only risks - when prescribing hormone therapy to men with low risk prostate cancer because there was no clinical need.

"Exposing men to these risks to meet Government targets would be deeply unethical and fly in the face of informed consent," he said.

"Possible side effects can include any of impotence, loss of libido, breast pain and tenderness, hot flushes or gastro-intestinal disturbances.

"We know that there are capacity issues in the NHS with regards to radiotherapy. Balancing timely radiotherapy appointments - for first treatment or secondary treatment if cancer recurs, across all people with cancer is a huge challenge.

"Nevertheless, it is vital that everyone receives the right treatment according to their clinical need. In low risk prostate cancer, the timing of radiotherapy may not be critical from a physical point of view.

"However, we are well aware that delays can be psychologically painful and extremely stressful for men who have decided on radiotherapy.

"These men need support whilst waiting for their treatment to start, not inappropriate and unnecessary treatment with potentially disruptive side effects.

"Health professionals working with people with cancer are extremely committed individuals with high standards of care.

"One can only guess at the anxiety and unhappiness that these professionals feel if perceived threats to their trust's financial future are perverting prescribing practice."

Copyright Press Association 2007

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