Hundreds of thousands fewer referrals for suspected cancer were made by GPs in England during the course of the pandemic, according to a new analysis. This has led to tens of thousands fewer people than expected being diagnosed with cancer, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. It also warned that in less than three years the NHS waiting list for people with all ailments could double. The NAO estimated that by March 2025, some 12 million people could be caught up in the backlog of care—which equates to 21 percent of the population, or one in five people. The number of people waiting for hospital care currently stands at a record 5.83 million—up from 4.43 million in February 2020 before the start of the pandemic. Specifically on cancer, the NAO said that it was “impossible” for the NHS to fully maintain cancer care throughout the crisis. Millions of people have …