Since the pandemic, waiting lists for skin cancer treatment have increased by a quarter, with patients facing delays of up to a year before they can start treatment.
Now politicians are calling for the abolition of VAT on sunscreens with a high sun protection factor so that more people can afford the protection.
Responses from 49 NHS trusts in England show that 38,392 patients have been put on a waiting list to start skin cancer treatment in 2023-24, up 25.8 per cent from 30,521 in 2019-20. In addition, 3,571 patients waited longer than the standard 62-day period to start treatment last year.
78 patients waited more than six months and some waited almost a year. The longest wait was at Norwich and Norfolk NHS Trust, where a patient was on the waiting list for 345 days after an urgent referral. Overstays of the 62-day target have almost quadrupled over this period, from 988 in 2019-20.
The actual figures are likely to be higher as some trusts did not respond to Liberal Democrat freedom of information requests.
Responses from 49 NHS trusts in England show that 38,392 patients have placed themselves on a waiting list to start skin cancer treatment in 2023-24. The research was carried out by the Liberal Democrats (file image)
The party’s health spokeswoman, Daisy Cooper, described the NHS’s cancer care as “shocking and tragic”.
She called on the Government to remove VAT on high SPF sunscreens, employ more cancer nurses and offer a 100 per cent guarantee that patients will start cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral. Sunscreens are subject to the normal VAT rate of 20 per cent. Removing this VAT would save consumers £67 million a year.
It is estimated that the cost of treating skin cancer in the UK NHS will rise to £465 million by next year.
A survey for the charity Melanoma Focus last year found that half the public think sunscreen is too expensive and one in ten say they don’t use it because it’s too expensive.
Ms Cooper said: “The astonishing increase in referrals shows that we need to do more to prevent people from developing skin cancer in the first place.”
“This means we need to make it affordable for people to protect themselves by reducing VAT on high factor sunscreens and requiring major retailers to publicly pledge to pass on the financial benefits to consumers.”
“We need to ensure that all patients start treatment as soon as possible and recruiting more cancer care staff must be a top priority for this Government.” Susanna Daniels of Melanoma Focus said: “Reducing VAT on high factor sunscreens would be a crucial step in tackling the alarming rise in skin cancer cases.”
A previous survey for the charity Melanoma Focus last year found that half of the public think sunscreen is too expensive, and one in ten said they do not use it because it is too expensive (file image).
“Given the strain on household budgets, many find it difficult to afford this vital product. Skin cancer, particularly melanoma, can be fatal but is largely preventable. Sunscreen is an essential tool for prevention.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “High factor sunscreens are on the NHS prescription list for certain medical conditions and are already VAT exempt when dispensed by a pharmacist to these patients.”
“As part of our ‘VAT Burn’ campaign, we are working with charities, politicians from all parties, patients and medical professionals to abolish VAT on sunscreens with SPF 30+.”
