OUR PLANS FOR IMPROVING HEALTH IN BROMLEY
Our commissioning intentions 2015 – 2020
CANCER
Survival rates for cancer are improving and deaths are falling. However, cancer is
still one of the main causes of death in Bromley (30% of all deaths) and the numbers
of people with cancer continues to rise. Too many people are diagnosed late, which
has an impact both on survival rates and the treatment that is required.
What are the challenges in Bromley?
We need to support patients to take up screening, live healthy lifestyles and seek
advice early if they are showing symptoms that could be cancer. The more people
are treated at an early stage, the more services will be able to manage the demand
for care.
Screening
We know that people in some parts of Bromley are less likely to go for cancer
screening. If cancer is diagnosed earlier, the chances of survival are much greater
and patients are less likely to need extensive treatment.
Lifestyles
There are high rates of obesity and smoking in Bromley, both of which create a
higher risk of cancer.
Information
Patients need to have clearer information about cancer so that they know how to
recognise signs and symptoms and when to seek advice and treatment, and if
diagnosed have better understanding of what is happening to them and how to keep
well when recovering.
Experience
The experiences of patients undergoing cancer treatment is variable, we need to
make sure that everyone gets the same high quality care when they need it and that
their experience is as positive as it can be when coming into contact with clinical
service.
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Services
We need to make sure that all patients with suspected cancer are seen and treated
within nationally agreed timescales and receive the very best treatment that is
available.
What are we going to do about it?
Our plans to improve care for people with cancer include:
Screening
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Target particular communities who are not going for cancer screening and
encourage more take up.
GPs and community teams, such as district nurses, will be more proactive in
identifying patients who may be at risk of cancer.
Information
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Provide better information to patients about living a healthy lifestyle and
looking out for the symptoms of cancer.
Increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer through
national campaigns, local events and by working closely with Macmillan
cancer support and public health teams.
Provide clear information about cancer through leaflets, patient consultations
and a telephone advice line.
Reach out to seldom heard communities who may not use local health
services to inform them about the risks and signs of cancer.
Help patients who are recovering from cancer to take control, manage their
condition and have access to the right services to aid their recovery. This
includes support for their mental wellbeing, such as exercise and activity
schemes and support to go back to work.
Provide more support for carers such as counselling and advice.
Services
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Ensure all the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE)
recommendations for cancer are implemented in Bromley services.
Services working together to provide joined up care for patients, which is
provided closer to home where possible.
Speedy access to diagnostic tests that can identify or rule out a cancer
diagnosis with a quick turnaround of results.
Improve performance of local services to make sure all patients are treated
quickly and effectively within agreed timescales.
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Improve the education of relevant health care staff on all aspects of cancer
care, including pain management, chemotherapy, signs and symptoms.
Ensure there are specialist cancer services in the hospital that are available
quickly for patients who are admitted with other medical conditions. This will
improve access to specialists, early recognition of cancer, better treatment,
fast referral and quicker discharge.
Shared care records to enable clinical staff to better co-ordinate care for
patients with cancer.
Ensure that patients reaching the end of their life have personalised and coordinated care from a range of services and are able, where possible, to die in
a place of their choice.
What benefits will patients see?
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Improved experience when receiving treatment for cancer.
Shorted waiting times for diagnosis
Consistent and high quality care provided for everyone who needs it.
Specialist care available at the right time and in the right place.
Improved physical and mental health and wellbeing.
More information about their treatment and more choice about how and where
they are treated.
 Feeling more in control of their condition.
 More awareness about cancer – the signs, symptoms, screenings and
treatments.
What do you think?
We would like your views on our plans for cancer.
Q1:
Do you agree with what we are planning to do to improve cancer care in
Bromley?
Q2:
Is there anything else you think we should consider?
Q3:
Do you have any other ideas about how we can meet the health and care
needs of people who live in Bromley (bearing in mind limited resources and
increasing demand?
Contact us with your views on 01689 866 643 or complete our survey on our website
at www.bromleyccg.nhs.uk by 16 October 2015.
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