Cancer concerns

These results, ascertained by Macmillan Cancer Support in conjunction with the Department of Health, also reveal that eight of the 10 hospital trusts at the foot of the league table serve London.

Little pleasure should be derived from this disparity, however. Cancer is a pernicious disease that will, almost certainly, afflict every family in the country – no one is immune from its consequences.

That the five hospitals highlighted by this latest study are going to such extraordinary efforts to support patients, and their families, by proving accurate information – and also emotional support – is testament to their awareness of the suffering that can be caused by this illness.

Patients should not have to ask for such support. It should be a matter of routine at all hospitals and this needs to be recognised by those NHS managers tasked with implementing a very challenging round of financial savings.

Nevertheless, it is not just the major hospitals that find themselves at the vanguard of cancer care – and the medical advances that now offer so much hope to sufferers. One of the keys to successful treatment is early diagnosis – and too many victims continue to be let down by GPs who are unable to detect tell-tale signs when patients become ill or feel discomfort.

Far greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving this aspect of care. Yet it is difficult to see how this will be achieved if family doctors are to be charged with distributing large chunks of the NHS budget rather than treating their patients to the high standards that they have the right to expect.