Important Not To Ignore Improvements On Cancer, UK

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 22 Nov 2010 - 5:00 PDT


It is important not to ignore the significant improvements in cancer care made by PCTs said PCT Network director David Stout in response to a National Audit Office report on the cancer reform strategy

Responding to today's National Audit Office report on the cancer reform strategy, David Stout, director of the NHS Confederation's Primary Care Trust Network said:

"It is really important not to ignore the major improvements made in cancer care and to acknowledge the role primary care trusts have played in driving this.

"However, we fully recognise that further progress is required in a number of areas. This report rightly highlights the importance of ensuring more consistent value for money from cancer service providers.

"In response to the national strategy, NHS organisations have invested significant additional resources in cancer services in recent years. This has led to improved cancer survival rates, increased inpatients treated with chemotherapy, more efficient use of inpatient resources and shorter waiting times for diagnosis.

"PCTs have often been hampered in achieving good value for money by inconsistent national data sets, the quality of coding, and cumbersome payment systems. It is vital that these national problems are recognised by the Department of Health. The Government needs to understand and act on what is holding back local organisations."

Source:
NHS Confederation

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