Highest death rate in the country
More women under the age of 75 with breast cancer are likely to die from the disease in the Newark and Sherwood area than anywhere else in the country.
New figures show there were 31.9 deaths per 100,000 people in the clinical commissioning group area.
In the best-performing area — Tower Hamlets CCG — the figure was 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people.
The figures are from a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group On Breast Cancer, which highlights regional inequalities.
The report noted that when compared with other cancers, breast cancer outcomes are good and improving. However, it said there were inequalities in diagnosis, treatment and care.
In some areas fewer people take up invitations for screening, which is offered to all women aged 50 to 70; life-saving drugs are not offered evenly across the country; and some women receive the care of specialist nurses unavailable elsewhere, the report concluded.
There were also job vacancies unfilled — in the East Midlands, for example, almost a third of mammography posts were unfilled, a higher proportion than elsewhere in England.
A spokesman for Newark and Sherwood CCG said when GPs suspected breast cancer they referred patients to hospital and they were seen within a fortnight.
It said it was consistently above the national standard for the two-week waits.
Dr Thilan Bartholomeuz, Newark and Sherwood CCG cancer lead and clinical chairman, said: “We have an excellent cancer team that works with the hospital and GPs, providing education and support.
“We work closely with Macmillan and public health to increase public awareness.
“I would encourage any person who feels they have signs or symptoms of breast cancer to contact their GP without delay.”
The CCG said its cancer team had four GPs who took the lead across mid-Nottinghamshire. The size of the team had not been reduced over the past year.
The report pointed to the role that should be played by Cancer Alliances in tailoring prevention, awareness and screening initiatives to local populations.
'There are fewer staff available to carry out jobs'
Samantha Nicklin, director of policy and campaigns at the Breast Cancer Now charity, said: “We don’t really know the reasons why Newark and Sherwood is the worst performer, but it is important to keep in mind that this is one metric.
“It is how you read the report, with your glass half-empty or half-full.
“It is the job of NHS England to drive this, to look at examples of good practice that could be used elsewhere.
“It is important to note that the earlier a patient is diagnosed, the better their chances of survival.
“If they are diagnosed at stage one or stage two, the survival rate is 90%. If it is at stage three or stage four, that drops to 15%.
“That is why it is really important for women to have a mammogram.”
Samantha Nicklin said the charity was concerned about staff shortages.
“There are fewer staff available to carry out jobs such as diagnostic support, screening and biopsies,” she said.
“In a few years’ time a number of staff are also due to retire, which will place additional pressure on the NHS.
“We also see examples in some areas of there being no applications for positions such as radiologist. It is simply that the staff are not available.”
The co-authors of the report, MPs Thangam Debonnaire, Mr Craig Tracey and Dr Philippa Whitford, said: “No woman with breast cancer can be sure they are receiving treatment and care that is either most suited to them or of the highest standard. That is unacceptable.”
Rushcliffe CCG had the highest rate in the country for detecting stage one or two cancers, at 88%.
Mrs Elaine Ellison, chairman of the Newark Breast Cancer Support Group, said she was surprised at the report findings.
“They do not tally with our support group’s experiences,” she said.
“When you look at Nottinghamshire as a whole, you have the Nottingham Breast Institute, and there is lots of work done at King’s Mill Hospital (Sutton-in-Ashfield) so I am surprised by the findings.”
Mrs Carole Blackburn, of Newark Breast Cancer Support Friends, said: “Going for a mammogram is the biggest issue out there.
“Our group is very informal and allows people to come away from their home environment. Sometimes they do not want others to know, and other times it is because they are looking after their own families.
“Sometimes, people just need a shoulder to cry on.”
The group meets on the first Monday of every month at 10.30am, at the Turquoise Teapot, Bowbridge Road, Newark.
