NEWS: Patients face diagnosis delays, report says

As reported by National Voices, their recent report highlights that over 20% of patients wait more than six weeks for tests, urging improvements in diagnosis and post-diagnosis support

The process of getting a diagnosis is becoming increasingly challenging, with February 2024 statistics showing that the proportion of patients waiting six weeks or more for diagnostic tests is 20.8%. To add to this, the much-needed wrap-around support for newly diagnosed patients is also simply not there. These factors are having a significant impact on patient care and the journey experienced by many post-diagnosis.

National Voices’ Vision for improving patient experience of diagnosis sets forth nine key recommendations. If acted upon, National Voices believes these recommendations will significantly improve people’s experiences of not only diagnosis, but health and care more widely.

These nine proposals fall under three themes; what can be done in the short term, offering wrap around support for newly diagnosed patients, and what needs to happen in the longer term.

They are as follows:

1. Adjustments and adaptations to enable access
2. Provide better support while waiting
3. Listen to the patient
4. Better communication around diagnosis
5. Make sure people have a plan
6. Provide access to support groups
7. Collect better data to understand the drivers of diagnostic health inequalities, and act on it rapidly
8. Upskill, coordinate and ultimately increase the workforce
9. New innovations must have health equity embedded from the start

The Vision for improving patient experience of diagnosis follows on from a report published earlier this month. People’s experience of diagnosis brings together insights from people with lived experience and National Voices’ members on the entire process of diagnosis.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices says:

Our members from across the health and care spectrum often tell us that the process of diagnosis is not working for the people and communities they represent, leaving people anxious and uncertain of their future.

To ensure individuals can live longer and healthier lives, it is vital that people feel well supported, listened to and empowered throughout the diagnosis process and beyond.

We urge the next government to follow the recommendations detailed in our vision to help improve people’s diagnosis experience and clinical outcomes.”