A charity has said there are inconsistencies in the treatment of blood cancer in the UK.
Leukaemia CARE has called on the government to end the inconsistencies in the treatment of the fifth most common cause of cancer in the UK.
The charity has coincided its research with a survey of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Local Health Boards across England and Wales which found 60 per cent routinely fund NICE-approved treatment for blood cancer patients.
The report's authors claim two thirds of PCTs follow procedures to give patients access to treatments that are available but not yet fully approved by NICE. They claim this suggests considerable confusion about the procedures used for making treatments available.
Tony Gavin, director of Cancer Campaigning and Advocacy, Leukaemia CARE, said: 'One of our greatest concerns is that patients should have access to treatment. This report shows that some cost effective treatments are not always being made available to patients and that confusion over the stages at which treatments can be made available is delaying vital treatment by as much as 90 days – days that some patients just don't have.
'Leukaemia CARE is calling for a consistent and transparent approach to providing treatment across England and Wales and has developed a five point action plan that we recommend the government implements.'
Researchers discovered three quarters of PCTs surveyed said they have made policy changes to bring them in line with National Prescribing Centre guidelines. Leukaemia CARE says this suggests post code inequalities across the UK are increasing with clear, evidence-based guidelines for the provision of services.
Less than half of PCTs polled said they make funding available as soon as guidance is issued with just over a third complying within the allowed 90 days, once final guidance is published by NICE recommending a treatment for use.
Joint author of the report, Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, said: 'It has become clear from this survey that whilst many reforms have been fully and effectively implemented, there are a number of outstanding areas, such as a significant number of PCTs making NICE approved treatments available only through procedures which are usually used for treatments not approved by NICE, which now need attention. A significant debate needs to be held around funding these treatments.'
A five-point action plan in Leukaemia CARE's report calls for a national debate to be held about funding treatments, consistent implementation of the NHS Constitution and national policies, and development of centralised facilities to license and appraise new treatments for introduction UK-wide.
The charity says blood cancer covers conditions like leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with around 27,000 people diagnosed with the condition each year.
Leukaemia CARE has called on the government to end the inconsistencies in the treatment of the fifth most common cause of cancer in the UK.
The charity has coincided its research with a survey of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Local Health Boards across England and Wales which found 60 per cent routinely fund NICE-approved treatment for blood cancer patients.
The report's authors claim two thirds of PCTs follow procedures to give patients access to treatments that are available but not yet fully approved by NICE. They claim this suggests considerable confusion about the procedures used for making treatments available.
Tony Gavin, director of Cancer Campaigning and Advocacy, Leukaemia CARE, said: 'One of our greatest concerns is that patients should have access to treatment. This report shows that some cost effective treatments are not always being made available to patients and that confusion over the stages at which treatments can be made available is delaying vital treatment by as much as 90 days – days that some patients just don't have.
'Leukaemia CARE is calling for a consistent and transparent approach to providing treatment across England and Wales and has developed a five point action plan that we recommend the government implements.'
Researchers discovered three quarters of PCTs surveyed said they have made policy changes to bring them in line with National Prescribing Centre guidelines. Leukaemia CARE says this suggests post code inequalities across the UK are increasing with clear, evidence-based guidelines for the provision of services.
Less than half of PCTs polled said they make funding available as soon as guidance is issued with just over a third complying within the allowed 90 days, once final guidance is published by NICE recommending a treatment for use.
Joint author of the report, Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, said: 'It has become clear from this survey that whilst many reforms have been fully and effectively implemented, there are a number of outstanding areas, such as a significant number of PCTs making NICE approved treatments available only through procedures which are usually used for treatments not approved by NICE, which now need attention. A significant debate needs to be held around funding these treatments.'
A five-point action plan in Leukaemia CARE's report calls for a national debate to be held about funding treatments, consistent implementation of the NHS Constitution and national policies, and development of centralised facilities to license and appraise new treatments for introduction UK-wide.
The charity says blood cancer covers conditions like leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with around 27,000 people diagnosed with the condition each year.
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