Cancer patients are still being denied the best chances of survival because of 'postcode lottery' care, MPs have alleged. The Commons Public Accounts Committee has found 'stark inequalities' in death rates across England - six years after the Government launched its Cancer Plan to tackle the disease.
Those who live in London and the South have the highest survival rates, while the largest mortality rates are in the most deprived areas of the country.The Government launched 34 cancer networks to oversee services in England. However the latest report found that nearly a third of cancer networks have no comprehensive plans for providing services to their localities.
Committee chairman Edward Leigh said there were also "stark inequalities" in cancer treatment across England.
"Many cancer networks, particularly in more deprived areas, are failing to address these problems," he said.
The committee review found regional variations in the availability of vital drugs, including breast cancer wonder drug Herceptin.
In some areas 90 per cent of eligible women are receiving the treatment compared to 10 per cent in others.
Joanne Rule, chief executive of charity Cancer BACUP said: "Cancer patients are in a lottery in terms of late diagnosis, access to treatments and survival rates.
This is from the Daily Mail. Full article here.
Posted by James Bartholomew • Indexed in NHS
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