Ministers urged to end NHS visitor ban as teenagers face cancer appointments alone

'Young people have been telling us that one of the worst things about having cancer during the pandemic is having to go into hospital alone', charities say

Cancer patient Daniela Alves, 21, from north London during her treatment (PA)

Teenage cancer patients are being forced to face their diagnoses and treatments alone, ministers have been told as they are urged to lift limits on loved ones attending medical appointments.

Restrictions have been enforced on who can attend appointments at some NHS trusts during the coronavirus pandemic, with parents forced to wait in cars while their children receive medical advice or go through chemotherapy.

Two of the nation’s leading cancer charities for young people have said the rules are leaving teenage sufferers isolated in the most traumatic moments of their lives.

The Teenager Cancer Trust and Clic Sargent have written to health minister Jo Churchill to urge the government “to commit to young people with cancer that they should not have to hear the news they have cancer, or face their treatment alone”.

Their letter added both charities were “hearing consistently from young people with cancer, who whilst feeling at their worst are feeling more isolated than ever".

“Since the pandemic began, many have reported hearing the news that they have cancer, details of their diagnosis or treatment plan, or having the treatment itself without being able to have anybody there with them”, it added.

Cancer patient Daniela Alves recalled having to go through chemotherapy without visitors.

The 21-year-old, from north London said: “Going through my first week alone was quite scary. You don’t know what symptoms you’re going to feel first, you don’t know how you’re going to react to the pain.

“It was very daunting.”

Cancer services are among those to have been derailed by the way the health service has been forced to adapt to Covid-19.

In October it was feared as many as 3 million people in the UK had missed out on cancer screening tests due to the pandemic,.

NHS England has said that about 85 per cent of cancer treatments were continued during the first wave of the pandemic, with 246,000 people being treated and 870,000 referred for checks.

Dr Louise Soanes, Chief Nurse at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We understand that the coronavirus pandemic means we need to take extra precautions to protect those who are most vulnerable, but know that in some places, having that important hand to hold is allowed whereas in others, it is not.

“Having cancer treatment, receiving a diagnosis or learning or hearing how you’re responding to treatment, can be for many a scary and isolating experience.

“Young people then need to share often very complex information – some of which they might be still processing – with family members, friends or a partner.

“That’s why, together with CLIC Sargent, we want to dispel the disparity so all young people, where safe and possible, have that crucial loved one with them and a hand to hold, particularly during some of the most difficult times of their life.”

Helen Gravestock, associate director of policy, influencing and voice at CLIC Sargent, added: “Young people have been telling us that one of the worst things about having cancer during the pandemic is having to go into hospital alone – sometimes to hear bad news.

“CLIC Sargent’s social workers have been supporting these 16-25 year olds when they go into hospital. We also know how tough it is for their parents and loved ones not being able to support them.

“Our social workers have been on the phone to worried parents as they sit in hospital car parks waiting for their son or daughter to come out. You don’t stop worrying about your child just because they’re adults."

Additional reporting by agencies