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Leading charities Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK are calling for increased investment in GP recruitment and phlebotomy services, a call now supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
Leukaemia claims nearly 5,000 lives annually in the UK. Approximately 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Research has shown that delays in diagnosis significantly impact survival rates, with emergency diagnoses often leading to worse prognoses. Notably, 37% of leukaemia patients receive their diagnosis via emergency presentation, compared to the 21% average for all cancers.
Unlike many cancers that require costly and complex diagnostic procedures, leukaemia can often be detected—or at least ruled out—through a simple and inexpensive full blood count (FBC). However, a recent survey revealed concerning statistics: only one-third of patients received an urgent blood test within 48 hours of presenting with symptoms, as recommended by the NICE NG12 guidelines. Some acute leukaemia patients reported delays of up to three to four months.
Additionally, NHS England data shows a troubling trend. Between 2013 and 2020, the number of patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in A&E increased by 10%, while the number diagnosed by GPs halved. These findings underscore the need for systemic improvements to ensure earlier intervention.
A Savanta poll of 1,000 UK GPs found that while 92% correctly identified the need for an FBC when a patient presented with the top four leukaemia symptoms, several barriers prevent timely testing. Notably, 30% of surveyed GPs cited a lack of phlebotomy service capacity as the most significant hurdle, while 10% reported a lack of clarity in clinical guidelines regarding the best course of action.
To address these challenges, Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK advocate for integrating phlebotomy services into community diagnostic centres, as recommended in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diagnostics report. They also call on UK governments and the NHS to increase investment in both GP recruitment and blood testing services.
The RCGP has expressed its support for increasing investment in phlebotomy services and fulfilling the government's commitment to recruit more GPs, contingent on a crucial amendment to the proposed recommendations. In a statement, RCGP stated:
“We are calling the governments and NHS across the UK to increase investment in GP recruitment and phlebotomy services. While we welcome the UK Government’s pledge to expand the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme so that Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in England can recruit more than 1,000 newly qualified GPs, this emergency measure should be recognised as a short-term solution facing challenges and variation in implementation. There must be ongoing funding and long-term solutions to improve GP recruitment and retention across all career stages to address the workforce crisis. For future leukaemia patients to benefit from increased GP numbers, there will need to be corresponding increases in phlebotomy services. This must not be overlooked in the UK Government’s workforce plans”
Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK urge policymakers, NHS leaders, and general practitioners to join their efforts in prioritising early leukaemia diagnosis. Investing in GP recruitment and phlebotomy services is essential to improving patient outcomes and saving lives.
For further discussions on how to support this initiative, healthcare professionals are encouraged to engage with Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK to shape policies that will drive meaningful change. Email your comments to campaigns@leukaemiacare.org.uk
To find out more about the Spot Leukaemia campaign at www.spotleukaemia.org.uk
Glossary
Leukaemia – A type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells.
Prognosis – The expected outcome of a disease, including chances of recovery or survival.
Emergency presentation – When a person is diagnosed with a disease, like cancer, after being admitted to hospital in an emergency situation, rather than through routine GP visits.
Full blood count (FBC) – A common blood test that checks levels of different cells in the blood, including red and white blood cells and platelets. It can help detect infections, anaemia, and some cancers like leukaemia.
NICE NG12 guidelines – A set of recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that help doctors decide when to refer patients for urgent tests if cancer is suspected.
Acute leukaemia – A fast-growing form of leukaemia that needs urgent treatment.
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) – A specific type of acute leukaemia that affects a type of white blood cell called myeloid cells.
A&E – Short for Accident & Emergency, the hospital department where people go in urgent medical situations.
Phlebotomy service – A service where trained staff take blood samples for testing.
Community diagnostic centres – Special NHS centres where people can have tests, scans, and checks outside of hospitals.
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Diagnostics – A group of MPs and Lords who discuss and make recommendations about improving testing and diagnosis in the NHS.
RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners) – A professional body that represents GPs in the UK and supports them in providing high-quality patient care.
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