Commons urged to support palliative care financially

Apr 22 2004

Leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Relief today gave evidence to the influential Commons Health Select Committee as part of its inquiry into palliative care provision.

Appearing before the Committee, Dame Gill Oliver, Macmillan's Director of Service Development, said:

'Macmillan welcomes this inquiry and is pleased to have been called to give evidence. Supportive and palliative care matters to people living with cancer from day one of their cancer journey, not just at the end of life. That is why Macmillan has produced a leaflet [Living with cancer: what you can expet from the NHS - PDF, 230 KB] to help promote awareness of the NICE Supportive and Palliative Care Guidance among people living with cancer, carers and health professionals.

'It's vital people know what they can expect from the NHS and Social Services. However, unless the Government funds the Guidance implementation adequately, momentum will be lost and people's raised expectations disappointed. We urge this powerful committee to make an explicit recommendation to Government to specify how it intends to fund the Guidance implementation.'

For further information, please contact:

Kirsty Warwick - Macmillan Cancer Relief Press Office
020 7840 7808 (out of hours 07801 307068)
[email protected]