UKLCC: Postcode lottery exists
Thursday, 06 Dec 2007 12:06
There is a "disappointing" postcode lottery in lung cancer care in England and Wales, the United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) has said.
Its comments follow a report from the Information Centre for Health and Social Care which found improvements in lung cancer treatment but warned that some areas were providing poor care.
It also said England and Wales are lagging behind other countries including the US and most European nations in the care it provides.
UKLCC chair Dame Gill Oliver commented: "It is disappointing that overall treatment rates in the UK are so low and that patients are still being subjected to a postcode lottery.
"However, the good news is that if all the centres in England and Wales matched the best in Britain, then we would truly have the world-class cancer service pledged in the cancer reform strategy, which would help more people survive this dreadful disease."
The UKLCC is calling for completion of audit information to be mandatory for all centres in order to more accurately address areas of concern.
