Discover the worst areas for cancer survival across England as report reveals how NHS is failing patients – with some 17 per cent more likely to die because of where they live
The shock statistic was revealed yesterday in figures showing nearly nine out of 10 treatment areas were not good enough
CANCER victims face a survival lottery with patients up to 17 per cent more likely to die in some parts of England.
The shock statistic was revealed yesterday in figures showing nearly nine out of 10 treatment areas in England are providing care that is not deemed good enough.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted the first official NHS review did not make “comfortable reading”.
He told the Tory conference in Birmingham: “There isn’t a family in this country, including my own, that hasn’t lost a loved one to cancer.
“But the truth is that for many years we have had the lowest cancer survival rates in Western Europe.”
However he stressed he was committed to building “a safer NHS doing more than ever to fight cancer for you and your family”.
The NHS aims to keep seven in 10 cancer patients alive 12 months after diagnosis.
Yet patients in Newham, East London, have a 63.9 per cent chance of living that long, compared to a 74.5 per cent chance in Harrow and Barnet, both in North London.
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Another target means medics should see 85 per cent of patients within two months of referral from a GP.
But only 68 out of 209 NHS commissioning groups saw this happen. In Thurrock, Essex, just 54.8 per cent of patients were seen in time, compared to 97.5 per cent in Richmond, South West London.
Ratings for each of the groups were based on four indicators — early diagnosis, one year survival, two month waits after referral, and patient experience. Just 14 per cent got a good report. Seven received top marks and 22 were rated as “performing well”.
Meanwhile, 156 were ranked as “requires improvement”.
A further 24 were found to be in “greatest need for improvement”.
They included NHS Blackburn with Darwen, NHS Blackpool, NHS Bradford City, NHS Coastal West Sussex, NHS Doncaster, NHS East Staffordshire and NHS Leicester City.
Last night NHS England said: “We are going to track progress transparently so everyone can see how we are improving care and outcomes for patients.”