Cancer concerns

This is regrettable. For some time, many patients have complained about being the victim of a “postcode lottery” when it comes to the availability and funding of potentially life-enhancing drugs – neighbouring health trusts have been known to have totally different policies.

These concerns are reinforced by the latest research carried out by the Cancer Drugs Fund. But this health divide does not end here. According to The King’s Fund, the influential watchdog, a culture of ageism is now becoming apparent – with older people less likely to receive favourable treatment in some areas.

There is absolutely no excuse, or justification, for this. Each and every patient deserves the best possible treatment and assessment – even though the age, and underlying condition, of some older sufferers will lessen the chances of a successful outcome.

Equally, it is important that clinical decisions are taken in conjunction with patients and their families. Better communication will dispel the belief, mistaken or otherwise, that some patients are being denied prompt treatment because of their age.

Furthermore, doctors and nurses need to remember that prolonging a patient’s life by a matter of weeks, or months, can be priceless – and people should not be denied this basic human right by arbitrary decision-making.

That said, it should be remembered that cancer care in the UK has been transformed in recent years, even though survival rates continue to lag behind the rest of Europe. If the Prime Minister is in a listening mode, he will address the concerns of The King’s Fund while rethinking his own NHS review.