Dr. Clive Kilgallen:

In terms of cancer diagnosis and treatment, the good side is that never before have there been so many opportunities. There have been incredible recent advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. If patients present, particularly if they present earlier, the more likely it is they can be cured and treated. This is new. There is a silver lining in all of this in that, between all of us, we have an opportunity to make changes.

I hear from our doctors on the wards during this Covid crisis that because patients are ill and in hospital, they do not have access to relatives. It is a communication problem in that clinicians, NCHDs and nurses are spending a lot of time texting, ringing and emailing relatives. That is extremely difficult. Of course, relatives at home may not be getting the full story. They are worried and anxious. The patients in hospital are anxious. This is one of the major things that has happened to staff on the ground who are trying to improve that. It has been very difficult.