Access to oncology care in western KwaZulu-Natal Province before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

A South African study at Grey’s Hospital Oncology Department found that while patient waiting times for cancer care remained stable during COVID-19 lockdowns, the absolute number of new patients seen daily decreased. This was particularly true for referrals from primary care facilities, suggesting the pandemic's impact was more on initial diagnosis and referral pathways than on the tertiary hospital's capacity to treat patients who accessed care.