The Cancer Reform Strategy meeting, part of the Westminster Health Forum, was held yesterday at the British Medical Association and included presentations from some of the most senior political and healthcare figures. It ended with a summary address from Cancer Tsar, Professor Mike Richards. The key points to come out of this meeting were as follows:
Every year in the UK there are 10,000 cancer deaths that could have been prevented with earlier detection and 90% of all cancer patients are initially diagnosed by GP’s. Therefore, the two things that can be done to improve on this situation are as follows:
a) Engage the public - Help patients to feel more inclined to come forward as soon as they think there might be a problem (e.g. a lump or a persistent cough)
b) Help GP’s feel less restricted about making referrals to specialists and give them better guidelines and access to diagnostics.
Many of the questions related to latest diagnostic and treatment technologies and their planned roll-out. At the moment, there are only two CyberKnife® units in the UK (there are 300 in the USA). However, the theoretical central plank of current strategy ‘Patient Choice’ was not mentioned and Prof Mike Richards, emphasised ‘surgery’ as the best traditional treatment option and underlined the need to make better use of current assets.
On a positive note for vegetarians, other questions related to better lifestyle education, for example how quitting smoking is the single biggest contributor to improved cancer statistics. Diet was the next most important factor and Prof Waxman reminded us that becoming vegetarian reduced the risks of various cancers such as breast and prostate by 50%.
- With the downturn in the economy the UK is now in operation ‘Reset’. This means that the onus is now on ‘cost-effective’ service delivery.
- There has been an improvement in UK Cancer services in terms of one-year and five-year survivorship data, but the NHS still lags behind the rest of Europe according to these data.
- Under current government leadership there has been financial profligacy - Professor Jonathon Waxman identified a “stinking hole of £278 Million per PCT” in NHS expenditure caused by PCT administration, he criticised NICE for delays in new drug approval and suggested that the funds for the NHS should be placed in the hands of experts (as opposed to PCTs).
- The biggest recent positive change in the whole cancer care approach has been ‘stakeholder engagement’.
- Going forward, all presenters underlined the need for improved early detection rates and this to be achieved via improved patient information and communications.
Every year in the UK there are 10,000 cancer deaths that could have been prevented with earlier detection and 90% of all cancer patients are initially diagnosed by GP’s. Therefore, the two things that can be done to improve on this situation are as follows:
a) Engage the public - Help patients to feel more inclined to come forward as soon as they think there might be a problem (e.g. a lump or a persistent cough)
b) Help GP’s feel less restricted about making referrals to specialists and give them better guidelines and access to diagnostics.
Many of the questions related to latest diagnostic and treatment technologies and their planned roll-out. At the moment, there are only two CyberKnife® units in the UK (there are 300 in the USA). However, the theoretical central plank of current strategy ‘Patient Choice’ was not mentioned and Prof Mike Richards, emphasised ‘surgery’ as the best traditional treatment option and underlined the need to make better use of current assets.
On a positive note for vegetarians, other questions related to better lifestyle education, for example how quitting smoking is the single biggest contributor to improved cancer statistics. Diet was the next most important factor and Prof Waxman reminded us that becoming vegetarian reduced the risks of various cancers such as breast and prostate by 50%.
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