A mother-of-three from Norfolk has claimed that her husband's chemotherapy was delayed for weeks because NHS staff were on holiday, leaving the family in limbo.
Shock Diagnosis
Anna Sales, from Bacton, described how life turned upside down when her husband Chris, 42, was diagnosed with an eight-centimeter tumour and advanced colorectal cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes. The diagnosis came on February 11, Chris's birthday.
Initially, doctors suspected Crohn's disease or IBS, but a scan revealed the aggressive, fast-growing cancer. Ms Sales said her husband had always been healthy with no family history of cancer, making the news a complete shock.
Delays in Treatment
After the initial rapid response, the family experienced a frustrating slowdown. Ms Sales said she had to constantly chase the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, an hour's drive away, to get appointments. The family was told Chris would start chemotherapy within four weeks, but weeks stretched into months with no updates.
Eventually, they were informed that the specialist nurses were on holiday, causing the communication breakdown. Ms Sales felt neglected, saying, 'We were left in limbo. I think they are understaffed, and you feel like a statistic rather than a human being.'
Financial Strain
The family is now raising funds through GoFundMe to cope with financial challenges, including the cost of living and caring for their three children. One child is managing Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) while preparing for GCSEs.
Ms Sales, who works as a tutor, criticised the government for making it difficult for working people to access help. She also praised the nursing staff on the wards, saying she 'couldn't fault' them.
Hospital Response
Dr Tarnya Marshall, NNUH Interim Medical Director, apologised for the family's concerns and said reducing waits for cancer treatment is a priority. The trust has made significant progress and is committed to improving patient outcomes.
Despite the challenges, the family remains hopeful, with Ms Sales noting that her husband's age is in his favour. She added that her work in mental health has helped her cope.
