UNNECESSARY deaths will occur amid enormous disruption to cancer services during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the head of Cancer Sciences in Southampton.

Prof Tim Underwood, who has been redeployed to the frontline in the fight against Covid-19, fears a spike in cancer cases as patients access medical help later during the pandemic.

Prof Underwood, a Cancer Research UK funded researcher and surgeon, who sees patients from across the south coast and Jersey in clinic and also operates here in Southampton, told the Daily Echo: “There will be deaths, there already have been. There are undoubtedly going to be other deaths related to this pandemic but not directly attributable to Covid-19.

"Some of the cancer deaths will definitely be because people are presenting too late and heart problems and the like will also carry on.

"It’s human nature that when there is a major problem the focus is on that, but people need to know that we are here to treat patients with and without Covid-19.

“The hospital has prepared exceptionally well for Covid. Things are working really well and lots of patients are being treated. But the rest of the hospital is relatively quiet.

"We are seeing far fewer presentations in the Emergency Department and through GP referrals. We think people are scared to come to hospital, but this is storing up the things people should be taking medical advice for at home.

"I’m worried that we’re going to see things later in their evolution and they will require more extensive procedures. We’re not seeing the people referred that we would expect to and that is a concern.

“The hospital is divided carefully into covid positive and non covid zones. If you need medical attention, we are ready, willing and able to look after you. Please seek advice if you need it. We are here.

"In my opinion, we are going to have a number of waves of Covid-19, but there will also be a number of waves of other problems, things that we are storing up and we will have to deal with those as they come."

Prof Underwood’s comments come as Cancer Research UK calls for more widespread Covid-19 testing so safe spaces for cancer patients can be guaranteed.

Also a Cancer Research UK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow, he explained that Cancer Sciences in Southampton are helping to ramp up Covid-19 testing.