Covid-19 and Cancer Services Report up until end of December 2021
March 10, 2022
With the re-emergence of COVID-19 in our community, Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Cancer Control Agency has once again begun to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnostic and treatment services.
The fourth report includes DHB data up until the end of December 2021. The report looks at the number of cancer diagnoses and treatments to end of December 2021, compared to the same time period in the previous year/s to understand if the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown has impacted cancer diagnosis and treatment, and created or exacerbated inequities.
Report summary:
- Overall, publicly funded cancer treatment services continued during the COVID-19 Delta outbreak beginning in August 2021.
- The dip in cancer registrations seen during August 2021 has resolved, with similar or higher numbers of cancer registrations seen in 2021 compared to previous years.
- The disruption to gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures seen August/September in the Auckland region has resolved.
- There has been some disruption to bronchoscopy procedures, not limited to Auckland.
- Te Aho o Te Kahu is following up on several items, including the disruption to bronchoscopy procedures.
- The overall impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnoses in 2021 is considerably smaller than the disruption seen in April and May 2020.