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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Chemotherapy: Mental Health Services (2 January 2015)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the quality and availability of practical and emotional support services for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Asked by:
Mike Kane (Labour)

Answer

The 2014 Cancer Patient Experience Survey reported that 93% of cancer patients surveyed who were being treated with radiotherapy and or chemotherapy received emotional support.

The survey also reported that the majority of cancer patients who took part in the survey said they received advice on practical matters such as availability of support groups (83%) and free prescriptions (78%). Just over half of patients surveyed reported receiving advice on financial help and benefits. NHS England recognises there may be opportunities for improvement in this area.

Living With and Beyond Cancer, a new joint initiative between NHS England and Macmillan Cancer Care, is currently in development. Areas the initiative is planning to focus on include ensuring all cancer patients have access to holistic needs assessment, treatment summary, cancer care review and a patient education and support event – the ‘Recovery Package’.

Cancer Patient Survey Trust level reports are published online at:

http://www.quality-health.co.uk/surveys/national-cancer-patient-experience-survey


Answered by:
Jane Ellison (Conservative)
9 January 2015

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.