Call for action following Healthcare Commission report

Aug 5 2004

Cancer information charity CancerBACUP is calling for action following Healthcare Commission report, which highlights particular concerns about patient information and the lack of patient involvement in their treatment and care.

"Nearly half of all adult inpatients surveyed for the Healthcare Commission report said they would have liked to be more involved in decisions about their care. This confirms what we know from callers to our helpline: patients are still not getting enough information throughout the NHS to enable them to be properly involved in decisions about their treatment," says CancerBACUP Chief Executive Joanne Rule. "The majority of callers to our helpline are from recently diagnosed patients who need more information to help them understand what their doctor is telling them and inform future discussions. It's vital that the Department of Health responds to this report and takes steps to improve information provision to patients. The government's commitment to patient choice within the NHS means little without this."