Grandma on cancer care has 'NINE appointments cancelled' - and 'hasn't seen her consultant since 2019'

A grandma-of-four says she has been hit with 'nine cancelled appointments' since being diagnosed with cancer in 2017. The 72-year-old says she should have check-ups twice a year on her cancer treatment plan, but claims she 'has not been seen by her consultant since 2019'.

Andrea Hartley was suffering from bowel cancer until she had 'life-saving surgery' at North Manchester General Hospital in 2017, which saw her have a colostomy and stoma. Treatment for the retired baker was going smoothly for two years, but since 2019, Andrea says her check-ups have been repeatedly postponed.

Surrounded by letters from the NHS and various Greater Manchester hospitals to cancel and reschedule her appointments at her home in Radcliffe, Andrea says she lodged a formal complaint, which resulted in a scan taking place earlier this year. But since the scan took place on March 7, she claims she still has not received the results amid the ongoing delays.

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"I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017 by one of those tests that comes through the door. I had the operation that saved my life that same year at North Manchester General Hospital," Andrea told the Manchester Evening News . "But 2019 is the last time I was seen by my consultant, and I'm supposed to be having two check-ups a year.

"I understand that the pandemic delayed things, but from then, right up until now I've had appointment after appointment cancelled. I've had nine cancelled appointments for various reasons - most recently because of the IT system issues at the hospitals."

The stress of constant postponements at hospitals, including Fairfield General, have taken a toll on the