Patient centered care: to ensure patients can make informed choices about treatment and care. A Cancer Information Advisory Group is to oversee the development, content, and availability of cancer information. Including patient representatives and voluntary organizations, it is beginning by assessing information gaps.
Quality cancer services: to ensure patients have access to specialist teams, including surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, and nurse specialists. By the year 2006, the number of histopathologists is set to rise by 16%, from 836 in 1999 to 968; the number of radiologists by 17%, from 1,507 to 1,767; the number of medical oncologists by 141%, from 110 to 265; and the number of palliative care physicians by 135%, from 94 to 221.
Diagnostic services: to ensure hospitals have the necessary expertise. In the year 200001, a 39% rise in diagnostic radiographers is planned, allowing for an extra 200 therapeutic radiographers in training.
Oncology services: to ensure oncologists are available in smaller cancer units as well as large cancer centers.
Radiotherapy: to set standards for staffing levels and facilities.
Chemotherapy: to set standards for staffing levels and effective treatment.
Palliative care: to ensure provision of specialist teams.
Education and training: to ensure staff are kept up to date.
Communication: to develop a system to provide "seamless care" between all service providers.
Management and organization: to ensure effective leadership.
![]() |
||||
|
Oxford University Press Privacy Policy and Legal Statement |