Cancer explosion set to strike Australia as THOUSANDS of potential victims have put off getting diagnosed because of coronavirus restrictions
- Cancer Australia said about 7,000 Australians needing treatment are unaware
- During the COVID-19 pandemic GP visits across Australia fell by 10 per cent
- This is despite the government increasing telehealth and bulk-billing services
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Experts are concerned that there could be an explosion in cancer cases after the pandemic as many people have put off going to their GP during lockdown.
Cancer Australia claim there could be thousands of Australians needing urgent cancer treatments who have no idea.
The organisation warned that many people may have ignored worrying symptoms or put off going to the doctor thinking they would burden the health system or catch COVID-19.
Experts are concerned that there could be an explosion in cancer diagnosis after the pandemic as many people have put off going to their GP during lockdown (pictured is a nurse conducting a swab test in May)
Cancer Australia CEO Professor Dorothy Keefe said a quick diagnosis provided the best chance for a patient to beat cancer.
The urgency for treatment also depends what type of cancer a person has, MS Keefe said.
‘For example, prostate cancer you can delay for a bit, but lung cancer you can’t delay,’ she told nine.com.au.
She said data shows that about 400 people are told the have cancer in Australia each day and that during the coronavirus pandemic GP visits fell by 10 per cent.
This means about 7,000 people needing treatment could be unaware.
The federal government announced funding for telehealth consultations during the pandemic, however, many people may be unaware these services can be used for non-coronavirus related issues.
Bulk-billing incentives for GPs were also doubled by the government for in-person and telehealth consultations.
However, despite these measures GPs experienced a huge drop in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dilip Dhupelia, president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, told the ABC that patient numbers were down by as much as 40 per cent in some clinics.
Bruce Willett, the Queensland chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners added that some GPs were experiencing such a huge drop in patents they were struggling to remain open.
‘Some GP practices have not really noticed much of a downturn, but other practices have noticed a really significant downturn and are really struggling to remain viable,’ he said.
He said he was aware that some practices had applied for JobKeeper payments.
Figures from the Medicare Benefits Scheme confirm the downturn, showing a 10 per cent drop in GP visits in the first three months of 2020.
This equates to about to about 100,000 less appointments.
Figures from the Medicare Benefits Scheme show a 10 per cent drop in GP visits in the first three months of 2020 (pictured is Nurse Catherine Askin performing a consultation with patient Rachel Roth at the COVID-19 and flu assessment clinic in Sydney)