Cancer deaths will rise for the first time in decades unless urgent action is taken to tackle the Covid backlog, the Government was warned today. One Cancer Voice, a coalition of 47 cancer charities, argued more money and staff are desperately needed to address problems stemming from the pandemic. The charities — speaking collectively for the first time — also asked for the NHS to be given greater access to private facilities. They said almost 45,000 UK patients 'living with cancer without knowing it' should have started treatment in 2020 but did not due to delays caused by coronavirus. Cancer experts today praised the charities for raising awareness of 'the biggest crisis in oncology' seen in more than 50 years.