27 Sep 2024 Policy

Leukaemia UK calls upon government to increase blood testing capacity

Together with Leukaemia Care, we’re calling on the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to focus on ‘business as usual’ primary care testing alongside innovation, amid concerns that a lack of capacity in phlebotomy could be contributing to late diagnosis of leukaemia.

A new Savanta poll of 1,000 UK GPs, carried out on behalf of Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care, found that 92% of GPs were able to identify the need for a full blood count test to be carried out when someone presents with the top four symptoms of leukaemia – unusual or unexplained bruising or bleeding, fatigue and repeated infections. 

However, of the 30% of GPs surveyed who cited reasons why this may not be possible, nearly 75% felt that a lack of capacity within phlebotomy services is preventing them from sending more symptomatic patients for a full blood count test. 

This Blood Cancer Awareness Month (September), Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK are calling for further investment in primary care, such as phlebotomy. Writing to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for England Wes Streeting and the various health secretaries across the UK nations, the charities believe this vital investment will help speed up leukaemia diagnosis and ultimately save lives.

Due to its aggressive nature and fast development, survival rates for AML are amongst the worst of any cancer type and so timely diagnosis is imperative. Yet NHS England data shows that 55% of people with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are diagnosed at A&E1, often when symptoms have progressed and survival rates may therefore be lower.  

Data analysis by Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care highlights missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis, with 30% of people visiting their GP more than twice with their symptoms before being diagnosed with AML2. The charities say this provides a clear window for opportunity to make sure more people are diagnosed following a GP referral for a full blood count test.

Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care are also raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia and encouraging people who have concerns to visit their GP and request a full blood count test. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines state that this should be carried out within 48 hours when someone presents with any one of the following symptoms:

• pallor
• persistent fatigue
• unexplained fever
• unexplained persistent or recurrent infection
• generalised lymphadenopathy
• unexplained bruising
• unexplained bleeding
• unexplained petechiae
• hepatosplenomegaly

Lisa Thompson, 52, from Somerset was diagnosed with AML in July 2022 after experiencing symptoms including extreme fatigue, unusual infections and nausea, which she put down to her demanding role as a primary school head teacher. She saw her GP and was booked in for a blood test in three weeks’ time. However, Lisa got increasingly unwell during that time so eventually went to A&E where further blood tests confirmed her diagnosis. She is now in remission.

Lisa said: “Identifying symptoms of leukaemia is like putting together the pieces of a jigsaw – it’s not easy to pin down. That’s why it’s so important for people who may be experiencing symptoms, like I was, to ask their GP for an urgent blood test. It is such a simple way of identifying something really serious. The sooner leukaemia is diagnosed the better – it shouldn’t take a desperate trip to A&E to get that.”

Colin Dyer, CEO of Leukaemia Care, said:

“We welcome the focus on cancer diagnosis from the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. However, the UK Government needs to look at the NHS capacity to undertake business as usual activities, such as phlebotomy, in addition to more scanners and expensive projects. Leukaemia is easy to rule out with a full blood count. People should not die early due to an inability to do a simple test.”

Every day, 27 people are diagnosed with leukaemia in the UK and there are currently over 50,000 people living with leukaemia in the UK. Collectively, blood cancers are the fifth most common cancer and the third biggest cancer killer in adults. Whilst leukaemia is often thought to be a childhood disease, those over 65 are most likely to be affected. 

Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said:

“It is no exaggeration to say that timely diagnosis of leukaemia through a simple, effective and inexpensive blood test can save lives, yet we know that for many people showing symptoms the NICE guidelines aren’t being followed correctly.  

“Our survey clearly shows that the vast majority of GPs are aware of the need to refer patients for a full blood count, but the experiences of people like Lisa show that this just isn’t happening. That’s why we’re calling on the Government to make sure that the NHS has sufficient capacity to deliver on these important guidelines, offering a full blood count test to those that need it before it’s too late.” 

References

1. https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/emergencypresentations 

2  https://www.spotleukaemia.org.uk/about-spot-leukemia