Dr Imran Keeka, the [b]Democratic Alliance’s[/b] KZN provincial spokesperson on health, has noted in a [s]Politicsweb[/s] report that the second of two radiotherapy machines at [b]Addington Hospita[/b]l in Durban has broken down. This follows earlier reports that one of Addington’s machines, along with several others at major Durban hospitals, were ‘out of order’ after the [b]KZN Health Department[/b] allegedly continued to renege on a maintenance agreement. Keeka said that when both of Addington's machines were optimally functioning, there was a two-week waiting period for patients. Without them, the waiting period is eight months. Keeka says that he has written to the [b]KZN Health MEC[/b] Sibongiseni Dhlomo to look into the matter with the ‘utmost urgency’.
In the UK, cancer patients’ chances of survival are being put at risk by growing delays in carrying out vital [b]NHS[/b] tests. [s]The Guardian[/s] reports that new figures show that the number of people waiting more than six weeks for an MRI or CT scan has doubled in a year and reached its highest level since 2008. NHS England performance data also shows that the number of people being forced to wait beyond the supposed maximum time has shot up for every type of cancer test, which also includes endoscopy and ultrasound. Sara Osborne, head of policy at [b]Cancer Research UK[/b], said in the report: ‘These latest figures are extremely worrying … a quick diagnosis of cancer and access to treatment is vital to improving survival from the disease.’
[link url=http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=634387&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389&utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=e8da789d9e-DHN_June_13_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99-e8da789d9e-130040921]Full Politicsweb report[/link]
[link url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/13/cancer-test-delays-lives-risk]Full report in The Guardian[/link]