Healthcare Commission NHS patient survey great cause for concern says CancerBACUP UK

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 08 Aug 2004 - 11:00 PDT


UK - Cancer information charity CancerBACUP is calling for action following today's Healthcare Commission report, which highlights particular concerns about patient information and the lack of patient involvement in their treatment and care.

"Nearly half of all adult inpatients surveyed for the Healthcare Commission report said they would have liked to be more involved in decisions about their care. This confirms what we know from callers to our helpline: patients are still not getting enough information throughout the NHS to enable them to be properly involved in decisions about their treatment," says CancerBACUP Chief Executive Joanne Rule.

"The majority of callers to our helpline are from recently diagnosed patients who need more information to help them understand what their doctor is telling them and inform future discussions. It's vital that the Department of Health responds to this report and takes steps to improve information provision to patients. The government's commitment to patient choice within the NHS means little without this."

Notes to Editors:

For more information during office hours please contact Daisy O'Clee on 0207 920 7219 or Jill Morrell on 0207 920 7220 or email jmorrell@cancerbacup.org.
For more information outside office hours please call 07973 308 346.

1) CancerBACUP is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer.

2) All CancerBACUP services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends.

3) CancerBACUP is part of the Department of Health Coalition for Cancer Information, which aims to ensure cancer information is of a high standard and widely accessible.

4) CancerBACUP Freephone Information Service: 0808 800 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm). The charity's interactive website can be found athttp://www.cancerbacup.org.uk

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