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Tuesday 12 Feb 2008 @ 16:14
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
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Future of cancer care
People across Scotland are being given the opportunity to have their say on the development of better cancer care.
Patients, carers, NHS staff, charitable and voluntary organisations and the general public are being invited to contribute their views to a consultation which will shape Scotland's future cancer strategy.
The discussion will open up for debate issues surrounding prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care, quality of care, patient experience and delivery of services, and will also put the spotlight on improving cancer waiting times.
Taking place over a 12 week period, the exercise will allow people to feed back through a simple online form or during a series of planned discussions across Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, who launched the discussion at the Cancer Centre in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital said:
"Cancer affects all of us at some point in our lives, whether as a patient, carer, friend or family, or indeed as a healthcare professional providing care and treatment for people with cancer.
"Each year, around 27,000 people are diagnosed with cancer, and that number is projected to keep on rising over the next 10 - 15 years, largely because of our ageing population.
"This is why cancer is a national clinical priority for the Scottish Government and we are committed to involving and engaging everyone in developing a new cancer action plan.
"Our discussion document includes many questions about specific issues and an open invitation for everyone to provide views and ideas about any aspect of cancer care.
"It builds on existing achievements by setting out a range of broad action areas to be addressed and putting a new focus on options to improve cancer waiting times.
"I have made it clear that I expect NHS Boards to deliver a maximum 62 day wait from urgent referral for all cancer types and I am pleased that current data on these waiting times is very encouraging.
"However I want patients to tell me how they find the current experience, and what they feel are reasonable waiting times. It's important we develop a strategy that will meet the needs of those affected by cancer for years to come."
Encouraging increases in cancer survival rates are already being achieved. The Scottish Government is on track to meet the national targets of reducing the mortality rate from cancer by 20 per cent in the under 75s by 2010 and achieving a further 10 per cent reduction in mortality rates in the most deprived sectors of the population.
Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in Scotland. Every year, about 27,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with cancer.
The new cancer action plan is due to be published this summer (2008)
Related Information
Patients, carers, NHS staff, charitable and voluntary organisations and the general public are being invited to contribute their views to a consultation which will shape Scotland's future cancer strategy.
The discussion will open up for debate issues surrounding prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care, quality of care, patient experience and delivery of services, and will also put the spotlight on improving cancer waiting times.
Taking place over a 12 week period, the exercise will allow people to feed back through a simple online form or during a series of planned discussions across Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, who launched the discussion at the Cancer Centre in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital said:
"Cancer affects all of us at some point in our lives, whether as a patient, carer, friend or family, or indeed as a healthcare professional providing care and treatment for people with cancer.
"Each year, around 27,000 people are diagnosed with cancer, and that number is projected to keep on rising over the next 10 - 15 years, largely because of our ageing population.
"This is why cancer is a national clinical priority for the Scottish Government and we are committed to involving and engaging everyone in developing a new cancer action plan.
"Our discussion document includes many questions about specific issues and an open invitation for everyone to provide views and ideas about any aspect of cancer care.
"It builds on existing achievements by setting out a range of broad action areas to be addressed and putting a new focus on options to improve cancer waiting times.
"I have made it clear that I expect NHS Boards to deliver a maximum 62 day wait from urgent referral for all cancer types and I am pleased that current data on these waiting times is very encouraging.
"However I want patients to tell me how they find the current experience, and what they feel are reasonable waiting times. It's important we develop a strategy that will meet the needs of those affected by cancer for years to come."
Encouraging increases in cancer survival rates are already being achieved. The Scottish Government is on track to meet the national targets of reducing the mortality rate from cancer by 20 per cent in the under 75s by 2010 and achieving a further 10 per cent reduction in mortality rates in the most deprived sectors of the population.
Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in Scotland. Every year, about 27,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with cancer.
The new cancer action plan is due to be published this summer (2008)
Related Information
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/02/06140628/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer/improving-cancer-care
