North's cancer care lottery

Dec 16 2007 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

HEALTH bosses in parts of the North forked out nearly EIGHT TIMES more on treatment for cancer patients last year than in other areas in the region, we can reveal.

According to Government figures, the amount spent per patient varied from just £8299 to a massive £63,461.

It has led to calls for a fairer way to distribute the cash and claims that it is yet another example of the National Health Service postcode lottery, where the level of treatment depends on where you live.

The Department of Health statistics show North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust spent over £60,000 per patient, while nearby Darlington allocated just over £8000.

The information was obtained by the Tories in a Parliamentary question. Julie Moody, the party’s prospective candidate for Redcar and Cleveland, said: “There must be a fairer way to allocate cancer care funding so everyone, no matter where they live, is treated equally and has the same chance of recovery.

“We all pay the same rates of tax for the NHS and we have all had friends and family affected by this disease. The difference in funding can mean the difference between life and death.”

“Cancer patients in areas where there is low funding will be furious that there is such a big difference.

“We have some of the worst cancer recovery rates in Europe, despite the NHS being a world-class organisation with dedicated staff. These allocations are effectively handcuffing doctors from being able to do their jobs and providing the best level of care for their patients.”

However, Catherine Foot of Cancer Research UK said the figures did not necessarily mean those trusts at the bottom of the table provided poorer quality treatment.

She said: “These figures do not take into account the type of cancer people in each region have, how long patients spend in hospital and the age of the population . . . all factors that would influence the amount an NHS trust needs to spend on cancer services.

“The recently published Cancer Reform Strategy has outlined a range of packages to help ensure local commissioners make the right funding decisions to provide best quality service and ensure money is spent effectively.

“We hope that commissioners across the country play close attention to the strategy and prioritise cancer.

“Reform of cancer services is vital if we are to prepare for the future challenges as the number of patients and the cost of treating them will certainly rise in the next decade.”