Bowel cancer patients denied choice of treatment

Over 1800 patients denied treatment choice

Over 1,800 bowel cancer patients are being denied a choice of treatment each year, according to new analysis published today by Beating Bowel Cancer[i]. 

In the report - Equity and Excellence for Bowel Cancer - Beating Bowel Cancer is calling for NHS hospitals that fail to offer bowel cancer patients a full range of clinically appropriate treatments to be hit with tough financial penalties.   

Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer said, “Every day over 100 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and each one deserves the best treatment and care available. There are a variety of treatment choices available to bowel cancer patients. Yet, many are not being given a choice and, as a result, may not be getting the treatments they need to give them the best chance of beating bowel cancer.  

“Today we are calling for treatment choice to be embedded in the NHS, and where choice is not offered then quality payments should be withheld. We want to turn equity and excellence into a reality for bowel cancer patients and we believe that this can only be done by putting patient choice at the heart of the NHS.”

Equity and Excellence for Bowel Cancer

Equity and Excellence for Bowel Cancer sets out Beating Bowel Cancer’s vision for how the health reforms should be applied to bowel cancer, and how Beating Bowel Cancer will contribute to the delivery of the best services for patients with bowel cancer.  It identifies areas that require action from the Department of Health, the local NHS, local authorities and professional bodies and makes recommendations about how these groups can tackle bowel cancer. Equity and Excellence for Bowel Cancer is endorsed in the foreword by the former NHS chief executive Lord Crisp and former health minister Lord Darzi.

Equity and Excellence for Bowel Cancer will be available to view on our home page from 4pm today.

NICE Decision

Beating Bowel Cancer’s call comes as NICE confirms its rejection of the use of cetuximab (Erbitux), bevacizumab (Avastin), and panitumumab (Vextibix), for the treatment of advanced bowel cancer, Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive of Beating Bowel Cancer said:

“This is yet another blow for bowel cancer patients. Just as we are calling on the Government to fine hospitals that do not offer a choice of treatments.

“Each year at least 1800 bowel cancer patients are denied a choice of the best treatments available to them.  All bowel cancer patients deserve the best care and that is why where choice is not offered we believe quality payments should be withheld.

“Our recommendation could actually make savings for the NHS and will mean better treatment now and in the future, enabling patients to survive and beat bowel cancer.”