Cancer strategy needs back-up, BMA warns

  Scotland’s new cancer strategy must be backed by resources and the right workforce if it is to get the best results for patients, doctors leaders have warned. BMA Scotland council chair Peter Bennie (pictured) welcomed the £100m cancer plan, but said it must align with other health policies, including recently announced elective treatment centres, and the integration of health and social care. He said it was important that they aligned with proposals to take a system-wide approach to planning health service delivery at national and regional levels, as outlined in the recent National Clinical Strategy, which is due to come into force in April. Health, well-being and sport secretary Shona Robison launched Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action last week. Intended to be a blueprint for cancer services for the next five to 10 years, it aims to improve prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and after-care.   Funds division Specific investments include: £50m for radiotherapy equipment and to support radiotherapy recruitment and training £10m to support speedy access to diagnostics for people with suspected cancer £5m to support waiting-times performance £3.5m to improve palliative care. There will also be £9m over five years to provide better support to people with cancer and their families, £5m to reduce inequalities in screening uptake and £7.5m to support improve...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news