Pledges call for cancer patients

There is concern about inequality of care

Cancer patients should be given a set of legally-enforceable promises setting out the standard of care they can expect, say MPs.

The cross-party Parliamentary Group on Cancer said the move was needed to raise standards and end inequality.

The commitments would cover issues such as home care, access to drugs, advice on finances and continuity of care.

The Department of Health said cancer services had improved, and policies would keep pace with new developments.

Emotional support, financial advice and practical help are every bit as vital to patients as the latest drugs Peter Cardy

The MPs' report - New Vision for Cancer - suggests the scheme could be overseen by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Labour MP Dr Ian Gibson, who chaired the group, said the proposals would put cancer patients "in the driving seat".

He said: "We need to act now to ensure we see long-term improvements in all areas of cancer care, including access to information and financial benefits, treatment, research, diagnosis and prevention."

More than 700 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every day.

Patient experience

Joanne Rule, of the CancerBACUP, said many people called the charity's helpline to find out what to expect on issues such as waiting times and access to new treatments.

She said: "We welcome today's report calling for national standards to ensure all cancer patients know what to expect and have equal access to the best treatment.

"We need a second, national cancer plan to rebuild consensus about the future of cancer care in this country and some money to implement it. This is the only way to stop the postcode lottery."

Peter Cardy, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Relief, said services had to work to improve the patients' experience.

"Cancer treatment needs to go beyond simply focusing on the medical and include social care.

"Emotional support, financial advice and practical help are every bit as vital to patients as the latest drugs.

"The needs of cancer patients will only be met when policymakers ensure they play a central role in both the development and evaluation of future cancer services."

Improvements

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The Cancer Plan set out a 10-year national strategy we are now almost six years into that plan and are focused on delivering its commitments.

"Whether we publish a new plan remains under review, but we do remain committed to updating the cancer plan, and updates were published in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

"These showed considerable successes and improvements in cancer services while acknowledging that more needs to be done.

"And we will ensure that we continue to develop our policies to keep pace with new treatments and the changing NHS."