Report warns government is making inadequate progress to improve cancer survival rates

A report by a group of MPs earlier this week concluded that the UK is making ‘inadequate’ progress towards its fight to improve cancer services.

 

Experts advising the Health and Social Care Committee examined promises that the government had made to improve cancer outcomes for patients and ruled that they were failing to meet the targets to boost the NHS workforce, speed up diagnoses and provide all patients access to personalised care.

 

Chair of the expert panel and ex-president of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Dame Jane Dacre, said cancer services are “facing overwhelming pressure”.

 

She added “We identified one recurrent theme – shortages of professional staff across cancer services are undermining achievement across every commitment we looked at.

 

“Our evaluation has also uncovered stark inequalities across cancer types and different regions in the country, not only on diagnosis but in what that will mean for their chances of survival.”

 

Eve Byrne, Macmillan Cancer Support’s director of advocacy, said “This report brings into sharp focus just how devastating the NHS workforce shortage is, and highlights the sheer lack of realistic targets in place to fill the gaps.

 

“We know that the shortage of cancer professionals is the common theme underpinning the raft of issues facing cancer care currently.

 

“Record numbers of people are still facing unacceptably long waits for cancer diagnosis and treatment, causing huge amounts of worry and distress.

 

“It is vital that the Government tackles this once and for all by guaranteeing that the upcoming 10-year Cancer Plan includes the long overdue plans for the staff needed to tackle the cancer care backlog, and ensure everybody gets the care they need now and in the future.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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