Emergency Presentations of Cancer: Quarterly Data , Q4 2020/21 (Jan to March 2021)

Figure 2 shows that in England, the 1-year rolling proportion of cancer patients who first presented as an emergency has been gradually falling over the five years up until the period April 2019 to March 2020 (18.8%). The 1-year rolling proportion of emergency presentations was significantly higher in the period April 2020 to March 2021 (23.0%) (including the first national COVID-19 lockdown) than during any other 1-year period in the previous 5 years from April to June 2016 to April to June 2020. The continued rise in 1-year rolling average proportion is being driven up by the significantly higher values in the quarterly proportion of emergency presentations for April to June 2020 and July to September 2020.

Between April 2016 to March 2017 and April 2019 to March 2020, the 1-year proportion of emergency presentations had not changed significantly for 88 CCGs, had fallen significantly for 15 CCGs, and had risen significantly for 3 CCGs. However, between April 2019 to March 2020 and April 2020 to March 2021 the 1-year rolling proportion of emergency presentations has risen significantly for 89 CCGs and has not changed significantly for 16 CCGs, with the proportion falling significantly for 1 CCG.

Between April 2016 to March 2017 and April 2019 to March 2020, the 1-year proportion of emergency presentations had not changed significantly for 7 CAs, and had fallen significantly for 14 CCGs. However, between April 2019 to March 2020 and April 2020 to March 2021 the 1-year rolling proportion of emergency presentations has risen significantly for all 21 CAs.