Council health report finds Corby childhood cancer rates are ‘not higher than in Northamptonshire, the East Midlands or England’

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) published the findings of two ‘detailed and independent’ analyses of data covering childhood cancer rates in Corby.

In the wake of the ‘Toxic Town’ revelations, families in the area affected by limb differences, miscarriages, death of babies and childhood cancers have been campaigning for official information from the authorities.

Using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) two teams of analysts – one from NNC, the other by the National Disease Registration Service – concluded: “Childhood cancer rates in Corby are not higher than in Northamptonshire, the East Midlands or England. No Corby neighbourhoods (broken down into what are called lower super output areas) had significantly higher rates than the North Northamptonshire average.”

Jane Bethea, director of public health for North Northamptonshire, said: “First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the families who raised these concerns. Their determination, care for their community and willingness to ask difficult questions have been vital in enabling this work to take place. We approached this analysis with seriousness and sensitivity, ensuring the most robust methods were used and that the work was independently reviewed.

“The findings provide reassurance that childhood cancer rates in Corby are not higher than expected. However, we recognise the courage it takes for families affected by cancer to share their experiences, and we remain committed to listening, learning and acting on future concerns that may fall within the remit of the council.”

Concerns from residents centred on whether historic industrial activity, including the former steelworks and waste disposal at Deene Quarry, could be linked to cancer rates among local children.

Alongside the council’s own work, analysts from the National Disease Registration Service were asked to undertake a separate analysis of cancer registration data – considered the most complete and accurate dataset available – including a specific assessment of the area within 5km of Deene Quarry.

The director of public health (DPH) has a duty to investigate any potential risks to the health of the population. As a result of heightened concerns the DPH requested a full analysis using NHS data available to North Northants Council through an established data-sharing agreement.

Findings were independently reviewed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the analysis of HES data was validated by analysts within the NHS to ensure accuracy.

Cllr Martin Griffiths, leader of North Northants Council, said: “I want to thank the residents who brought their concerns forward and everyone involved in this complex and important work. Our priority has always been to ensure our communities have clear, transparent and independently verified information.

“These findings will be reassuring for many, and they reflect a great deal of care, professionalism and collaboration between the council, the NHS and national agencies. We will continue to be open with our residents and responsive to their concerns.”

Earlier this month, findings of a citizen science project found evidence of metals in watercourses across the Corby area, adding to concerns of health risks.

Kettering mum Tracey Taylor, who was part of the original Toxic Town case, took part in the water testing and has been campaigning to be told the locations of where toxic waste was dumped around Corby.

After being told the initial findings, Tracey said: “It’s not surprising. I always said they would come back saying it’s low. They are saying the rates are no higher but we still want to know where the toxic waste is buried.

“Childhood cancer is just one element – there are angel babies [babies who have passed away due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or in early infancy], limb differences, heart defects. I want a public inquiry – I am fighting for a public inquiry – we keep going.”

The full reports and overview are available on the North Northamptonshire Council website.

Analysis carried out by the council aimed to determine whether there were more children aged 0-19 years, living in the Corby area of North Northamptonshire, who had a diagnosis of cancer compared to North Northamptonshire overall, and compared to children living in the district areas of Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire.

To do this, the study identified the number, and rate per resident population years, of 0-19-year-old North Northamptonshire residents being recorded at least once in hospital admissions data as having been diagnosed with cancer.

Under a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) with NHS England, the council had access to Hospital Episode Statistics enabling access the most recent 10 years of data.

Adding a number of caveats the report states: “Our hospital admission analyses only considered admissions that occurred in the past 10 years, and this may provide an incomplete picture of cancer in 0-19s in North Northamptonshire. Some young people with cancer living in the area may not have been included. This could have occurred if they did not have an admission to hospital due to cancer in this time period, or if their diagnosis was not coded correctly.

“It is also possible that some recorded diagnoses of cancer were incorrect.

“These factors could have led to underestimates or overestimates of rates in different areas. This in turn could have led to apparent differences between the areas appearing greater or less great than they actually are.

“It is also important to note that in some cases the person’s address at the time of admission may have been different to what their address had been at the time of diagnosis.

“Additionally, our analysis does not help us to understand what may have caused differences in rates that were seen between the areas.”

The 2000 epidemiology study by Kettering Health Authority (KHA) into limb differences in Corby decided there was no cluster. But the data was disputed. Experts disagreed about what rates from what populations (in the surrounding areas) were valid and appropriate to use in calculating expected numbers of cases and their statistical significance.

In April 2010, after an 11-year legal battle, Corby Borough Council paid out a total of £14.6m including compensation to the victims and legal fees for both sides. The council financed the payment by borrowing money, agreeing to pay it back at a rate of £730,000 per year for 20 years.

For the full report go to www.northnorthants.gov.uk/childhoodcancers.