A two-thirds drop in cancer referrals across Greater Manchester during the coronavirus pandemic has been described as ‘very, very worrying’ by the region’s health chief - who has also warned of falling A&E attendances and rising mental health cases.
As concerns grow that people are not reporting the early signs of cancer, attendances to emergency departments were also below those expected at every hospital last week, with numbers at North Manchester General and the Royal Oldham both more than 80pc less than forecast.
Sir Richard Leese, chair of the region’s health and social care partnership, said parents and people suffering minor strokes and heart attacks were among those thought to be avoiding A&E.