New analysis unveiled today has uncovered vast variations in the
care that men with prostate cancer receive across the whole of
England. They reveal that many men in the West Midlands and Essex
are receiving poor prostate cancer care and support whilst the
majority of men living in Greater Manchester are getting what they
need.
The new analysis released today - 13 March 2013 - maps for the
first time the outlook for men with prostate cancer in England
according to where they live, in terms of both experience of care
and treatment outcomes. The evidence further highlights that,
despite recent improvements, the disease lags behind the treatment
of other common cancers in key areas such as availability of
Specialist Nurses, provision of information and support. The paper
outlines findings which are in line with mounting evidence that
there are severe inequalities in the care men with the disease
receive across the UK.
Key findings:
- Three Counties and Arden Cancer Networks come bottom of the
league table in terms of men's experience of care and also have
some of the highest mortality rates, whilst Greater Manchester
& Cheshire Cancer Network comes top in terms of treatment and
has one of the lowest mortality rates.
- Less than three quarters of men in some Cancer Networks are
given basic information about the purpose of tests or given crucial
choices about which treatment to have, compared to almost all men
receiving this support in other networks.
- Only 4 in 10 men in some Cancer Networks find it easy to get in
touch with their specialist nurse. However, in other Cancer
Networks more than 8 in 10 men find it easy to do so.
Today a team of people affected by prostate cancer will descend
on Westminster to urge MPs to take action against this England-wide
injustice without further delay. As a key step in the road to
better care for men they will be calling on MPs to work with their
local health authorities to fully adopt Prostate Cancer UK's new Quality
Checklist - a best practice guide for men and clinicians which
shows the care and support men with prostate cancer should except
to receive at every step of their journey.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK said: "It is
an outrage that men face a postcode lottery in the care and support
they need to navigate the minefield that is the prostate cancer
treatment journey. There are over 215,000 men living with the
disease in England and this number is set to rise at an alarming
rate. To help combat this, it is vital that every man has access to
world class information, care and support they need and deserve -
no matter where they live."
Sharp continued: "In an bid to help stamp out inequalities faced
by men with prostate cancer in the UK, our Quality
Checklist list aims to address the problem by setting out
15 national standards for support and care.
"We urgently call upon health care providers and commissioners
across England, and particularly in the regions with the worst
performing networks, to take the first step to reversing this
injustice by ensuring that our checklist is adopted and implemented
urgently.
"Every man in this country should expect their care to be the
very best, and we are determined ensure that's exactly what they
get."