I wrote to my MP about the Macmillan ‘Cote Cancer Support’ campaign and I received a reply yesterday that I’d like to post here as it is the best detail I have seen on the Conservative policies on cancer so far. It covers most of the concerns that we all have. Sorry its so long, but read on if you have a couple of minutes to spare.
E xx
Thank you for drawing to my attention Macmillan’s ‘Vote Cancer Support’ campaign. I know that Mark Simmonds, the Shadow Minister with responsibility for cancer, has discussed these matters with the Chief Executive of the organisation, Cieran Devane, on a number of occasions. Firstly, on the issue of survivorship, we recognise that increasing numbers of people are living through and beyond their cancer, and need to be fully supported. Most importantly, they need to have accessible and accurate information on their condition, including signs and symptoms of secondary cancer. They must also have access to emotional and psychological support, as well as assistance in accessing the benefits and financial support to which they are entitled. The Conservative Party are particularly concerned that many individuals do not experience the same level of support when they are diagnosed with secondary cancer as they did for their primary diagnosis, and we would consider the implications carefully, to ensure there is access to support, such as clinical nurse specialists, for all. We are well aware of the excellent work of the National Cancer Survival Initiative, lead by Macmillan, and will continue to follow its work closely.
Secondly, on the issue of access to medicines, particularly for rarer cancers, we have recently outlined our proposals to reform NICE which would speed up and widen access to new drugs and treatments. These include:
To remove the process of Ministerial referral for drugs. Under the current system it is politicians who decide which drugs and medicines NICE assesses for cost and clinical effectiveness. This has added up to a 12 month delay, even before the NICE process begins. We would remove politicians from these decisions completely, and allow our independent NHS Board to refer new treatments to NICE.
To allow NICE to begin its assessment as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency begins Phase III of its trials, further speeding up the NICE process.
To allow appraisal of the value or benefit of a treatment to include its wider social value, which will make the system fairer and more effective.
To introduce the principles of value-based pricing into the NHS where appropriate – so the price paid by the NHS for drugs reflects its therapeutic value. This would be a fundamental change in how drugs are funded, and would need to be phased in over a period of time, alongside risk-sharing schemes, where the manufacturer and the NHS share the cost of the drugs.
On the specific issue of rare cancers we have pledged to consider the introduction of disease specific measures of cost-effectiveness, which coupled with the above proposals, would result in more drugs reaching the patients faster and would ensure that treatments that are routinely available elsewhere in Europe would be available in Britain.
The issue of end of life care we have considered carefully, as it is a vital part of the cancer pathway. Research by Marie Curie Cancer Care and YouGov has shown that most people would want to be cared for at home (64%) or in a hospice (23%) if they were terminally ill. Yet about half the people with cancer die in hospital, with less than a quarter (22%) achieving their wish to die at home. Governments must respect these wishes, and we want a structure of community nursing and care which enables terminally ill people to die in a place of their choosing. We would like to see an expansion of the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme and has increased choice over place of death whilst reducing the cost of end of life care by 8%. Alongside this, we will establish, through commissioning guidelines prepared by NICE, advice on end-of-life care which reflects best practice and will consider implementing a national tariff with respect to palliative care, which will in effect offer full cost recovery to voluntary sector.
The Conservative Party has outlined proposals to end unnecessary structural reorganisations of the NHS, abolish top down targets and judge success on outcomes. We are particularly focused on detecting cancer earlier; as evidence shows that early detection increases survival rates. In particular, we want to encourage people to attend cancer screening regularly, and we would like greater understanding of lifestyle choices that can cause cancer and education regarding the symptoms of cancer. We would also like those with cancer to have greater access to Clinical Nurse Specialists, and are endeavouring to change the funding allocation so that the allocation of funding better reflects the burden of disease.
We aspire to have five year cancer outcomes amongst the best in Europe, and we believe that these proposals will help us to achieve this ambitious aim.
Yours sincerely