Similar views are being expressed privately at NHS England. Sources there said officials had made the government aware of its concerns about the messaging and is monitoring the impact it is having on patients coming forward for check-ups and appointments.
“We are not seeing anything in the figures to suggest it’s having an impact, but we are keeping a close eye on it,” one source said.
Another hospital leader said: “If the government isn’t careful it will cause lasting damage. Yes, we know there are many problems, but there is also lots of great care out there that is not being recognised.
“We need to see a shift – the cancer death sentence phrasing strikes completely the wrong tone.”
The death sentence claim was made in a written response from government to a story covered by the last week about the variation in waiting times by different cancers, and in the House of Commons by Streeting on 12 September, the day Lord Ara Darzi published his report into the state of the NHS.
In both cases, it was suggested Lord Darzi’s report found cancer was “more likely to be a death sentence for NHS patients than those in other countries”.
Lord Darzi did not use the phrase death sentence in his report, although he did point out the UK had higher cancer mortality rates. Lord Darzi has been approached for comment, but is yet to respond.
When asked for a response to the language, Cancer Research UK pointed the to data showing that one in two people diagnosed with cancer now survive at least 10 years.
Meanwhile, the phrase “national shame” was used by Mr Streeting in response to a report by the Care Quality Commission report last week, which found two in three maternity units were not safe enough.
Sir Julian Hartley, of NHS Providers, which represents health leaders, said it was important to recognise what the NHS was doing well and the efforts of staff who were working “flat out”.
“There’s a lot to be proud of despite ongoing concerns and difficulties,” he added.
