Coronavirus is having a devastating impact even on those who don’t contract the disease – with doctors predicting thousands of people will die as their vital surgery and treatment is put on hold.

More than two million operations have been postponed after non-emergency surgery was cancelled to free up beds for coronavirus patients.

The people who will die during the crisis with health conditions unrelated to Covid-19 are now considered ‘collateral damage’, with nearly 1,800 extra deaths recorded by the Office of National Statistics in one week last month, the highest number for nearly 20 years.

Hospitals are being pushed to breaking point with medics being removed from their normal duties in order to join the NHS frontline.

Operating theatres have been mothballed, specialist wards closed and innovative and potentially life-saving treatments put on hold until the crisis no longer threatens to overwhelm hospitals.

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But for the people who have had their treatment temporarily cancelled, the crisis poses a terrifying threat.

The NHS has issued guidance to hospitals that cancer treatment should continue unaffected, but patients have reported having surgery and cheomtherapy paused.

Among those waiting for surgery is little Lyla O’Donovan, 7, who has a brain tumour and should have had surgery last month to stop her having seizures.

Her operation is on hold because of the danger of catching Covid-19 but her father, Paul, 35, a soldier from County Durham, told the Daily Mail: ‘For every seizure she has, we don’t know the extent of the brain damage it’s doing.’

Reginald Waite, 82, from Eaton, Cheshire, was diagnosed with cancer in March after a scan picked up a blockage in his bile duct but a planned operation was postponed as the virus spread.

The retired electronics engineer is worried his cancer will spread in the coming months with no treatment yet on the horizon for him.

Amelia Jones, 17, collapsed with a brain haemorrhage in January. She is now missing the top of her skull after emergency surgery following her collapse.

It was supposed to relieve pressure on her brain, but Amelia has been left with movement and cognitive difficulties and has no idea when a further operation to replace part of her skull will now take place. Her father Leighton told the Mirror: ‘Amelia has a long way to go, but without this operation she can’t start.’

Other forgotten victims include teenager Kieran Crighton, 14, who had two operations in the diary before coronavirus hit, one to help him walk and one to drain fluid from his brain. Both are on hold.

Kieran has been a wheelchair user for the past two years after doctors discovered five tumours on his brain. It is an incredibly anxious time for him and his worried family.

Mum-of-two Ceri Maddock Jones, 39, was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer five years ago. Before the virus struck, she’d hoped to go on a medical trial – something she described as ‘my only option’.

‘I don’t want to die, for my sons’ sake,’ she said. ‘These trials were my last hope of keeping my family together a bit longer.’

Roland Monger, 39, may have only months to live after his chemotherapy for skin cancer was put on hold. Now, he is aiming to live long enough to take his children back to school in September.

An NHS spokeswoman said: ‘Decisions about treatment are rightly being taken by expert clinicians who will be carrying out as much cancer treatment as possible, while clearly needing to balance this against the risk to individuals posed by coronavirus.’

But Cancer Research UK said it was not clear how cancer care would be affected and over what timeframe.

Professor Charles Swanton, the charity’s chief clinician, told the BBC in March: ‘As the virus becomes more common in the UK, it will undoubtedly add more pressure to the NHS, bed and ITU availability and hence service delivery.

‘We also know that patients suffering from cancer are at higher risk of complications from viral infections such as flu, and Covid-19 is likely to be no different.’

It has since been announced that cancer patients in England will be operated on at 21 new centres kept clear of coronavirus.

The regional ‘virus-free’ centres will carry out urgent surgery during the pandemic with trusts being warned all essential cancer treatments must continue, amid an estimated drop of 70% in cancer referrals.

A survey by NHS England of 1,000 people found a third were worried about seeking help from their GP during the crisis.

Have you had treatment that has been cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus? Email [email protected] to tell your story.

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For more stories like this, check our news page.Wednesday, March 25th

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