NSW finds at least 20,000 overdue cancer screening tests
A preliminary audit found at least 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests in NSW public hospitals. This could delay bowel cancer detection.
NSW Health found at least 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests in the public health system. Many are for patients waiting to be checked for bowel cancer.
Endoscopy is a test to look at the digestive system and find conditions like cancer. Endoscopy procedures had never been tracked centrally before.
Bowel cancer is the second-deadliest cancer in NSW. The government is spending 17 million dollars to speed up procedures.
It will start with the most urgent cases. It will now monitor waiting times centrally to stop future backlogs.
Long waiting lists come from growing demand and an ageing population. More referrals also come through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Health Minister Ryan Park said early detection is important. Bowel cancer is highly treatable when caught early.
- 20,000
- Overdue endoscopies
- 17 million dollars
- Government funding
- 160,000
- Annual NSW Health endoscopies
- Second most deadly
- Bowel cancer rank in NSW
Why it mattersDelayed cancer screening can mean late diagnosis. It can also mean worse treatment outcomes. Central monitoring should stop this backlog from happening again.
AustraliaNSW patients waiting for endoscopy tests, including those with positive screening results, should see faster appointment times, though the backlog will take months to clear.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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