NAO Releases New Study

A medical negligence expert has joined calls for the long-term care of cancer patients to improve, following the release of a new report from the National Audit Office.

The study revealed that while services have improved, there is a lack of information linking the budget spent on care and the outcomes achieved.

It also revealed that the number of emergency hospital admissions for cancer patients has increased significantly in recent years, leading organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support to suggest some are being “abandoned” and not given the appropriate care.

Lisa Jordan, a Partner who specialises in medical law and patient’s rights for Irwin Mitchell, said: “It is vital that the conclusions of this report are used in a positive manner to ensure that all cancer patients receive the right care catered to their needs.

“This is particularly urgent considering the suggestions that a failure to do so is inadvertently increasing costs by forcing many to make use of emergency services.

“While improvements have been seen in the new report, I call on the NHS to continue pushing forward by actively providing the best possible treatment and ensure patient safety is taken as seriously as possible.”