Cancer postcode lottery reforms welcome, but blood cancer still at risk of being left out
United Kingdom
National charity, Blood Cancer UK has welcomed the government’s commitment to tackling cancer inequalities, while warning that blood cancer must be clearly included in the National Cancer Plan to end long-standing gaps in care.
The charity was reacting to the Government’s plans to tackle long-standing inequalities in cancer care, including increasing the number of cancer specialists in areas with the biggest gaps, particularly in rural and coastal communities.
The Government has also committed to setting new national standards for cancer care and expanding access to the latest diagnostic technology, with the aim of speeding up diagnosis and treatment.
Blood cancers are complex, often hard to spot, and rely heavily on specialist teams and fast access to the right tests.
Blood Cancer UK's Tracey Loftis said:
“Too many people with blood cancer still face delays and barriers to getting the right care. In the UK, blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer and affects over 40,000 people each year and many types remain hard to beat.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome step towards tackling the postcode lottery highlighted in our UK-wide Blood Cancer Action Plan, which exposed shortages of specialist staff, uneven access to treatment and expertise, and wide variations in care, all of which put lives at risk.
“As the National Cancer Plan is developed, blood cancer must be fully and clearly included. This is a disease where survival in the UK has lagged behind another countries, despite being the third biggest cancer killer. The plan must ensure everyone with blood cancer can access expert care as quickly as possible, so outcomes are determined by treatment, not where you live.”
