This story is
embargoed until 10 Feb 2010 - 00:01
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has given cancer
patients in rural areas the chance to comment on their
experiences. Insights from patients, their families and from
service providers suggest that living in the countryside can
affect the quality of cancer care. There are particular challenges
associated with running awareness campaigns and screening services
in rural areas and difficult or costly journeys to hospital place
extra strain on patients. The provision of care for discharged
cancer patients remote from health services and with poor public
transport is a further concern.
With 250,000 cancer cases every year in England, and survival
rates lagging behind the rest of Europe, the CRC's
research highlights that new ways of working are needed to improve
health outcomes for cancer patients in rural areas. The CRC,
Macmillan Cancer Support and the Department of Health are
therefore bringing together key people in cancer care to develop
solutions to the problems facing rural cancer patients.
Sarah McAdam, Chief Executive of the Commission for Rural
Communities said "Rural cancer patients told us about the
pain and discomfort of regular and lengthy journeys to remote
treatment centres and about the considerably increased costs that
they faced as a result. We are therefore supportive of any
measures that enable cancer services to be delivered closer to
people's homes.
"Today's event will provide a unique
opportunity for experts to get to grips with the issues and
identify practical solutions. By bringing together individuals
from different specialisms we hope to break down barriers to
improving the quality of care for cancer patients in rural
England."
CiarĂ¡n Devane, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support said:
"More people are surviving cancer and the NHS needs to
focus more attention on meeting their long term needs. Blood
clots, nerve damage, and depression are just some of the physical
and emotional long-term problems that affect cancer survivors.
However, people who have finished treatment for cancer are often
overlooked by health and social care services. Those living in
sparsely populated rural areas can suffer the greatest isolation
and more needs to be done to help them."
Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for
Cancer said: "Cancer treatment in Britain has improved
vastly in recent years and this is shown in the falling mortality
rates and increasing survival rates. However we know that survival
rates still vary across the country. At present, some GPs do not
have direct access to the full range of diagnostic tests and, even
where there is access patients can wait up to 6 weeks for the
tests to be carried out.
"That is why last year the Prime Minister pledged that
patients in all parts of England will have access to tests which
can confirm or exclude cancer within one week. We believe that
improving early diagnosis through speedier access to diagnostic
tests and raising awareness of cancer symptoms will save up to
10,000 lives a year."
ENDS
For further information contact Chris Wynne-Davies on 01242 534070
Notes for editors:
1 CRC's research report 'Insights from users
and providers of cancer care in
rural England: Summary
report', CRC 117, February 2010, can be found at:
www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/CRC%20Web%20117.pdf
2 Further details of the 'Tackling cancer care in rural
England' event taking place on Wednesday 10 February can
be found at: www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/events/tacklingcancercareinruralengland
3 The Commission for Rural Communities acts as the advocate for
England's rural communities, as an expert adviser to
government, and as a watchdog to ensure that government actions,
policies and programmes recognise and respond effectively to rural
needs, with a particular focus on disadvantage.
It has three key functions:
Rural advocate:
the voice for rural people, businesses and communities
Expert adviser:
giving evidence-based, objective advice to
government and others
Independent watchdog:
monitoring, reporting on and seeking to
mainstream rural into the delivery of policies nationally,
regionally and locally.
www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Chris Wynne-Davies
Phone: 01242 534070
chris.wynne-davies@ruralcommunities.gov.uk