Last week, the UK Government published a report into the state of the National Health Service (NHS) in England, carried out by Lord Darzi. The Darzi Report found that the NHS currently sits in a critical state, with urgent and comprehensive reform needed to ensure that the NHS is able to respond to the needs of the nation.
The report highlighted how cancer care in the UK has fallen behind our European neighbours, with only 65.8% of patients being treated on time. The report also stated that only 60% of genomic tests (genetic tests used to diagnose cancers) are being delivered to schedule, and that only 5% of eligible patients with brain cancer have access to whole genome sequencing, which is vital for treatment selection.
During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we welcome the emphasis that the report placed on improving care services for children. On average, over 420 children in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year, accounting for more than a quarter of all childhood cancers in Great Britain.
The report found that waiting list sizes and the duration of waits have grown more rapidly for children than for adults in recent years. Moreover, paediatric care must be a central theme in the upcoming 10-year plan on NHS reform.
Dr Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research states: “This report is a frank and honest assessment about the state of the NHS in England as it stands today. Only by placing cancer and paediatric care at the centre of the 10-year plan, will the Government be able to improve tangible outcomes for brain tumour patients and their families.
"This is a solid foundation for change but we need to see collaboration from the Government, to develop a roadmap for the full national deployment of the £40 million already committed to the research of brain tumours back in 2018.”
We are ready to work with the Government in order to ensure that the critical issues identified by Lord Darzi are addressed and tangible improvements for brain tumour patients are achieved.
Link to the full report can be found here.
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