Milagros G.F. was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 through a public health screening. She underwent chemotherapy, surgery, and more chemotherapy. At the beginning of 2023, this 59-year-old woman from Galicia started the year without the tumor in her body, but her oncologist at the Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS) warned her to be alert: every five months, she needed a CT scan and a check-up. However, since finishing treatment almost a year and a half ago, her doctor has only seen her once. She was supposed to have an appointment in February, but she has not received one yet. Milagros admits to feeling panicked that the cancer may return and become untreatable. She is one of many affected by delays in oncology follow-ups at this public hospital, causing distress and anxiety for patients and cancer survivors in the Compostela area.
The number of individuals not receiving the prescribed oncology follow-ups at the Santiago hospital is unknown, as the management of the Sergas-affiliated center does not disclose this information. A group of 15 affected individuals, all women, have decided to mobilize themselves. They have united through the Association of Patients and Users of CHUS and have filed a collective complaint with the Galician Ombudsman. The spokesperson for this organization, Fernando Abraldes, denounces the “absolute vulnerability” of the patients, who are victims of a breach of their healthcare rights that also has a “psychological price” for them. This issue is attributed to a structural problem of inadequate staff numbers. Abraldes demands that the hospital “resize” the oncology service to meet the growing demand: “The staff cannot remain the same as it was ten years ago.”
The management of the hospital defends the “excellent quality of care” in the oncology area and claims to have diagnostic and treatment times comparable to the most prestigious services in Spain. They attribute the delays in appointments to recent months due to the “impossibility” of substituting for absent oncologists because there are no available doctors in this specialty on the hiring lists. The management has implemented a plan for extra shifts to try to reduce waiting times by scheduling appointments in the evenings. While they claim this measure has significantly increased daily activity, the association of center users and the affected individuals believe it will not be sufficient due to the growing demand and the extent of the backlog.
Delays in cancer patient reviews have particularly affected Milagros G.F. She expressed frustration at having to constantly fight for her rights and confront the hospital management about the delays in oncology follow-ups. Despite filing complaints with Sergas, affected individuals have received generic responses lacking humanity and transparency. The lack of communication and delays in care continue to cause anxiety and distress for patients awaiting crucial medical appointments. As the crisis unfolds, a new Minister of Health, Antonio Gómez Caamaño, has taken office, coming from the oncology department at this hospital.
Ana Freire, who survived uterine and ovarian cancer four years ago, has experienced eight months without any follow-up from her oncologist, despite her genetic predisposition to cancer. She underwent surgery in 2020 and had regular check-ups during the worst of the pandemic. However, starting in 2022, she experienced delays in her quarterly appointments, waiting months for her scheduled reviews and tests. Despite efforts to address the backlog and delays in cancer patient care, the situation remains challenging for many patients in need of regular monitoring and treatment.
