Public patients can be left waiting up to 20 times longer than private patients for vital cancer tests, a new report has shown.

According to the findings, some public patients were left waiting for up to 480 days for important tests.

The figures are contained in a report based on an in-depth survey of GPs, which was commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) and carried out by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).

"The grim reality of our healthcare system is that the difference between life and death can come down to your ability to pay for healthcare," commented Donal Buggy, the ICS's head of services and advocacy.

When it comes to access to tests for cancer, the report shows a major difference between patients who can pay and those who cannot.

For example, the average wait for an MRI of the spine for a public patient was found to be 120 days. For a private patient, it was five days. The average wait for an MRI of the brain for a public patient was found to be 110 days, while for private patients, it was five days.

The Neurological Alliance of Ireland has said it is ‘extremely concerned' about the waiting times for MRIs.

Meanwhile other vital tests with long waiting lists for public patients include ultrasounds, with an average wait of 60 days versus five days for private patients, and chest CT scans, with an average wait of 30 days versus five days for private patients.

The report revealed that 85% of GPs admitted that their patient's ability to pay affected their access to referral services.

"We know from the many cancer patients and survivors who have shared their stories with us, that our two-tier system of health care leads to huge differences in outcomes based on whether you can afford to pay for private health insurance or not. This report makes clear that GPs working right across the country and in all socioeconomic areas, face a struggle in securing timely tests to diagnose public patients," Mr Buggy insisted.

Around 46% of people currently have private health insurance, some 39% hold a medical card, while the remainder of the population have neither.

Mr Buggy emphasised that an early diagnosis of cancer leads to more treatment options, fewer complications and better survival rates.

"However, for the majority of the population without access to the private system, they may have to face lengthy waits that deprive them of early access to either a diagnosis or peace of mind," he said.

Meanwhile, according to Dr Brian Osbourne, a GP and director of the ICGP Postgraduate Resource Centre, when GPs have difficulties in accessing diagnostic tests for their patients, they often feel compelled to send them to hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) ‘in the hope that they can access relevant tests there'.

"GPs also try to contact specialist services in hospitals to expedite appointments for patients, but a lack of streamlined referral processes for most cancers can lead to long delays," he noted.

The report makes a number of recommendations, including:
-The introduction of new guidelines for referral for cancer tests. These would ensure that the right patients are seen at the right time
-That GPs have access to cancer tests within 28 days
-Make electronic referral the standard method of GP referral for suspected cancers.

"The comprehensive range of recommendations included in the report, if put in place, will make a big difference across a wide range of areas to ensuring early diagnosis of cancer."

"However, without a wider conversation about, and commitment to, ensuring equal access to a universal, publicly-funded healthcare system for all, the huge inequalities of our peculiar provision of healthcare will remain and those who cannot afford to pay will be left behind," Mr Buggy added.

If you are concerned about cancer, call the ICS Cancer Nurseline on 1800 200 700.