The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Cancer Referrals in Primary Care in the UK: Two Years On

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.1913

Keywords:

Referrals, Primary care, Clinical Audit, Observational Study, Coronavirus, Cancer Referrals, COVID-19 Lockdown, Primary Care, Diagnostic Yield, Urgent Referrals, Healthcare Disruption, UK Healthcare, Patient Outcomes, Early Detection, Referral Patterns

Abstract

Background: Cancer is common, with most cancer patients presenting initially to a general practitioner. The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in the delivery of primary care, which could have affected cancer referrals. This observational study looked at two-week cancer referrals (2WRs) made before, during and after the first UK COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, at a GP practice in the Wirral, England.

Methods: A search was conducted to find the cancer referrals made between 23rd March 2020 - 1st July 2020, during the first lockdown. Using the same methodology, cancer referral data was collected for the corresponding time periods in 2019 and 2021. The number of 2WRs and positive diagnostic yields were then compared.

Results: The number of cancer referrals decreased by 40.4% in 2020, compared to 2019. In 2021, the number of referrals then increased by 225%, compared to 2020. Overall, the number of cancer referrals increased between 2019-2021. The positive diagnostic yield for the 2020 2WRs increased by 251.4%, compared to that of 2019. The calculated yield for the 2021 data then decreased by 10.8% compared to 2020. Overall, the positive diagnostic yield increased between 2019-2021.

Conclusion: The numbers and outcomes of cancer referrals at this Wirral GP practice have changed considerably following the first UK COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, and the influence of the pandemic was still affecting cancer referrals in 2021. A greater focus on early cancer detection in primary care could help overcome the ways in which the pandemic has affected primary care delivery.

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References

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The graph titled "The Difference Between the Number of 2WRs Made in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Data Sets" illustrates changes in two-week cancer referrals (2WRs) over three years, based on the study you provided. In 2019, the number of referrals was approximately 120. This number significantly dropped in 2020 to around 60, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown. By 2021, there was a strong rebound, with referrals exceeding 160, representing a recovery after the pandemic restrictions were lifted.

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Published

2024-07-10 — Updated on 2024-09-30

How to Cite

Whittle, O., Bushby, L., Chambers, R., & Gittens, J. (2024). The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Cancer Referrals in Primary Care in the UK: Two Years On. International Journal of Medical Students, 12(3), 252–258. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.1913

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Vol. 12 No. 3 (2024)

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Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2024 Olivia Whittle, Lucy Bushby, Rebecca Chambers; Jayden Gittens

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