Brain tumour survival rates must be in line with Europe - Health Secretary

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley MP aims to bring the UK’s ‘unacceptable record’ on brain tumour survival rates in line with Europe under a reformed NHS.

Mr Lansley addressed a meeting on the 30th of January of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Brain Tumours in London. It was attended by members of all parties from both houses of parliament, patients, carers, families, health professionals and charities.

“For brain tumours, the survival rates are still not at the European average. We want them to be at the European average. We want to move to a place where we identify cancer early,” said Mr Lansley.

Guest speaker Professor Garth Cruickshank, Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, outlined concerns that best practice and valuable experience would be lost under the new NHS structures.

Patient speaker Daryl Gittins, from Wales, who travelled to London for private care, explained the impact the “postcode lottery” had had on his treatment, stressing that it was only with support from charities that he got the right advice.

In his response, Mr Lansley outlined the three components of the NHS reforms designed to tackle these and other concerns.

With regards to patient involvement, Mr Lansley said the Government was pushing for a ‘no decision about me, without me’ culture, which was already bearing fruit in other areas such as prostate cancer.

Concerns about whether commissioning groups would follow NICE’s best practice guidance would be addressed by ensuring that health professionals, rather than politicians, made decisions about new quality guidelines as well as through stronger cancer networks, he said.

Finally, the Secretary of State called for more focus in delivering improved outcomes, saying that ultimately survival rates for brain tumour patients had to be as good in the UK as in Europe. This should be achieved through a renewed focus on early diagnosis for cancers, better access to drugs and improved radiotherapy treatments, he said.

Brain Tumour UK Chief Executive Jenny Baker said: “We welcome the Health Secretary’s reassurances, in particular the emphasis on shared decision making and a focus on early diagnosis. We hope to work closely with Government to ensure the patient’s voice is heard.”

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