01.05.10
Better treatments and recession can lead to better cancer care
A joint briefing by the NHS Confederation and Macmillan Cancer Support shows how, as cancer is an increasingly survivable disease, care can be improved so it is better for patients and more efficient.
As cancer becomes an increasingly survivable disease, NHS organisations will need to change the way patients are cared for and take advantage of possible efficiency savings says a new report from the NHS Confederation and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Latest figures show £1.2 billion pounds is spent on inpatient cancer care per year and that, by 2030, there will be over four million people living with cancer in the UK.
The key to offering better care and making services more efficient is to coordinate care so patients are assessed quickly once a diagnosis is made, and a comprehensive care plan is put in place for them and their families.
The role of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Allied Health Professionals are vital to delivering cancer care fit for the 21st century. Proper assessment and care plans will put the patient back in control and will reduce both costly emergency admissions and stress for patients.
The report shows how a new system of follow-up support needs to be introduced so patients can take more of an active role in managing an illness that, for many, is no longer a death sentence but a treatable long term condition.
Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations, said:
“Being diagnosed with cancer is an extremely stressful and difficult time or patients. With early detection and the improvements that have been made in the treatment of this disease, more people are surviving.
“This briefing sets out how, using specialist nurses or allied health professionals to assess and talk through a diagnosis of cancer early with patients, a comprehensive care plan can be drawn up so that potentially unnecessary emergency admissions and extra stress for patients can be avoided.
“The evidence shows that providing practical targeted support at the right time is not only better for patients but leads to more efficiency and better value services.”
Stephen Williams, Cancer Reform Implementation Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“Now the NHS is having to make significant cuts to budgets, the temptation may be for NHS organisations to reduce supportive services in order to save money such as information centres or Clinical Nurse Specialists.
“This report demonstrates that this would not only be bad for patients but will actually cost more to the NHS in the long run by moving the costs elsewhere in the system."
“In order for the NHS to cope with the increasing demand from people affected by cancer within a smaller overall envelope of money, it will need to see patients as individuals with psychological and emotional needs and design services that support better self-management. This will save money and give patients what they need.”
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