Scotland gets its say on better cancer care

People across Scotland have been given the opportunity to have their say on the development of better cancer care.
Patients, carers, NHS staff, charitable and voluntary organisations and the general public are being invited to contribute their views to a consultation which will shape Scotland’s future cancer strategy.

The discussion will open up for debate issues surrounding prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care, quality of care, patient experience and delivery of services, and will also put the spotlight on improving cancer waiting times.

Taking place over a 12 week period, the exercise will allow people to feed back through a simple online form or during a series of planned discussions across Scotland.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, who launched the discussion at the Cancer Centre in Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital said:”Cancer affects all of us at some point in our lives, whether as a patient, carer, friend or family, or indeed as a healthcare professional providing care and treatment for people with cancer.

“Each year, around 27,000 people are diagnosed with cancer, and that number is projected to keep on rising over the next 10 - 15 years, largely because of our ageing population.

“This is why cancer is a national clinical priority for the Scottish Government and we are committed to involving and engaging everyone in developing a new cancer action plan.”

Encouraging increases in cancer survival rates are already being achieved. The Scottish Government is on track to meet the national targets of reducing the mortality rate from cancer by 20 per cent in the under 75s by 2010 and achieving a further 10 per cent reduction in mortality rates in the most deprived sectors of the population.

The document – Better Cancer Care – a discussion – is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer

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