Summary
Senior cancer doctors in England warn that complex rules are making it hard for patients to access the newest cancer treatments. Some treatments are only available in larger, well-funded hospitals, leading to differences in healthcare based on location. A new government cancer strategy aims to improve access to these treatments.
Key Facts
- Senior doctors say bureaucracy is preventing some patients from accessing the latest cancer treatments.
- The issue creates a "postcode lottery," where only certain areas or hospitals offer advanced treatments.
- The Royal College of Radiologists wants the process for funding treatments to be less complicated.
- Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) uses precise, high-dose radiation but is hard to access in some areas.
- NHS England plans to offer a more streamlined process for using SABR across hospitals.
- A new government cancer strategy is expected to address these issues and improve care.
- Cancer Research UK calls for faster diagnosis after finding delays in meeting diagnosis targets.
