Cancer care policy H&S

Question 1

What is the Calman-Hine report (1995)

Answer 1

Examined cancer services in the UK and proposed a restructuring of cancer services to achieve a more equitable level of access to high levels of expertise throughout the country:

1. All patients to have access to a uniformly high quality of care
2. Public and professional education to recognise early symptoms of cancer
3. Patients, families and carers should be given clear information about treatment options and outcomes
4. The development of cancer services should be patient centred
5. Primary care to be central to cancer care
6. The psychosocial needs of cancer sufferers and carers to be recognised

Question 2

What were the aims of the NHS cancer plan (2000)

Answer 2

1. Save more lives
2. Ensure people with cancer get the right professional support and care as well as the best treatments
3. Tackle inequalities in health that means unskilled workers are twice as likely to die from cancer as professionals
4. To build for the future through investment in the cancer workforce, through strong research and through preparation for the genetics revolution

Question 3

What were the 6 key areas of action of the Cancer reform strategy (2007)

Answer 3

1. Prevention - smoking, obesity, alcohol, sun-bed use, vaccination
2. Diagnosing cancer earlier - screening, expand programmes
3. Ensuring better treatment - reduce waiting times, increase radiotherapy capacity, chemotherapy audits
4. Living with and beyond cancer - national cancer survivorship initiative
5. Reducing cancer inequalities
6. Delivering care in the most appropriate setting - care should be delivered wherever possible to maximise patient convenience and services should be centralised where necessary to improve outcomes. Also easy access to diagnostic tests in primary care!