This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New guide for cancer patients
07/03/2003
A guide to ensure cancer patients and their carers are
receiving relevant information was launched today.
Cancer in Scotland: A guide to securing access to
information is intended to help NHS Boards and the cancer
networks achieve more patient focused services.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm unveiled the guide at
the Scotland Against Cancer Conference in Glasgow.
"Involving people in the widest sense - patients, carers
and the public - is central to NHSScotland. The White
Paper, Partnership for Care, launched last week emphasised
the increasing importance of involving patients in
decisions about their own care and in developing services
more generally.
Listening to patients and understanding the wants and
needs of patients are absolutely fundamental to improving
the quality of services.
"Patient information is a vital part of a patient
focused service. Yes, there is lots of information around -
leaflets, videos, websites and phone lines. But if the
right information, in the right format is not available at
the right time it is of little use to patients.
"With roughly 26,000 new patients with cancer each year
- and with, perhaps, as many as 10 times more who might be
investigated but found not to have cancer - it may not be
possible to set up a system which provides answers to all
the questions asked. But I believe it is possible to have
information about the healthcare setting in which patients
are seen, the investigations and treatment they may have
and information about the various forms of cancer as well
as sources of further information and support.
"This guide has been put together with the involvement
of patients, carers, voluntary organisations and cancer
support groups. It is there as a direction finder,
highlighting areas of action and or questions that NHS
Boards and cancer networks might ask themselves as they
continue to drive forward patient focused services."
The Minister also highlighted service redesign as an
area that can make a major impact on the creation of
patient centred services. As an example, he pointed to
changes to the service at the breast clinic at Wishaw
General Hospital which he visited recently.
He said:
"There are real benefits to patients of this redesign
work. Women referred to the breast clinic now have their
investigations all undertaken in one visit - a one stop
clinic meaning women do not have to make several trips to
the hospital.
"It also means women who do not have cancer - which is
the case in the majority of cases - no longer have the
burden of unnecessary anxiety over an extended period while
tests are undertaken and returned.
"Redesign has also brought similar changes and benefits
in Ayrshire and Arran, Edinburgh and elsewhere and not just
breast services. Redesign is restructuring services across
the country and in areas like - colorectal,
gastro-enterology, head and neck and gynaecological
services."
The Minister also encouraged patients to come forward to
take part in clinical trials as another important element
of patient involvement.
He said:
"When people think of patient involvement it tends to
focus on patients as members of groups, support networks,
planning and decision making bodies.
"But these are not the only routes through which
patients can and should be involved. Participating in
clinical trials has long been recognised as a way of
improving outcomes for patients. It is also recognised that
if they are eligible for trial and, if they agree to be
treated within trial protocols, this means they are
necessarily better involved in decisions about their
treatment.
"I want to encourage patients everywhere to ask about
how, and if, they can be involved in clinical trials
through the Scottish Cancer Research Network."
Last year £1 million was provided to get the Scottish
Cancer Research Network (SCRN) underway. Research staff
will be taking up their posts over the next few months.
The SCRN will participate as a member of the National
Cancer Research Network steering committee to ensure
research effort in cancer is joined up across the whole of
the country.