Cancer aftercare is ‘not good enough’

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PROSTATE cancer sufferers have named Worcestershire’s NHS as the worst in the country for supporting those with the disease.

Only 35 per cent of the county’s patients surveyed by Prostate Cancer UK said they had received enough care or help from health or social services, the lowest overall result across England.

The results also showed only 16 per cent of patients said they had been offered a written assessment and care plan - compared to a national average of 25 per cent - and 19 per cent said they had been given information on financial help or benefits by hospital staff - against a national average of 38 per cent.

But Worcestershire fared better on other indicators, with 77 per cent of patients saying their test results had been explained completely and 81 per cent being given written information about what they should and should not do after they left hospital.

The figures released this week by the charity show large variations in the standard of care received, with many men in the West Midlands and Essex reporting poorer care than expected, while patients in Greater Manchester fared much better.

Dr Sarah Cant, the charity’s director of policy and campaigns, said: “The figures for Worcestershire are not good enough in terms of the care or help provided to men with prostate cancer from local health or social services.

“Our report outlines the differences in supportive care across England, as the experiences of the patient are vital in determining what improvements need to be made locally.

“It is a distressing time for men when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is essential that they have the right information to make crucial choices about what treatment to have.

“Every man should expect their care to be the very best, and we are determined to ensure that’s exactly what they get, everywhere.”

Stewart Messer, the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s chief operating officer said: “The Trust is committed to providing the best care for all its patients and will work with colleagues across health and social services to see how the service for prostate cancer patients could be improved.”

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