Universal Health Scare #54: Outrage Over Cancer Survival Rate Disparity In England

Written by: Uncle Seth The Noble on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Sky News has the details…

Cancer Research UK says there is “no excuse” for the big differences in survival rates between different regions.

The latest Department of Health report shows that in some areas cancer patients are at a much higher risk of death.

A lung cancer patient in Herefordshire is three times more likely to die within a year of diagnosis than a patient in Kensington and Chelsea.

For bowel cancer, one-year survival is 80% in Telford and Wrekin but just 57.9% in Waltham Forest. The international “good practice” level is 79%.

For breast cancer one-year survival is 99% in Torbay but 89% in Tower Hamlets, east London.

Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “These shocking statistics confirm that the cancer postcode lottery remains a real problem.

“Patients are undoubtedly not being diagnosed early enough in large parts of the country, nor are they getting equal access to the best treatments.

“There is no excuse for such a big difference between different areas.”

There are certain cancers that react much faster than government can with treatment. Ultimately a government run system will lead to many within that society to die prematurely precisely because government is bogged down with bureaucratic decisions and rationing by politicians. This story is very sad indeed and the English should be outraged, but this story is really not a surprise that health care in that country has sunk to the terrible condition that it is in.

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Topics: Universal Health Scare

One Response to “Universal Health Scare #54: Outrage Over Cancer Survival Rate Disparity In England”

kris Says:
December 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am

oh believe me – there is a postcode lottery here.

All of the idiots beating the drum on Twitter with their “we love the NHS” crap unfortunately weren’t so robust in tweeting grandma left to die in her own filth or the thousands of other heartbreaking stories that are in the Press every day.

The NHS spends the majority of its money (taxpayer money) on management – not doctors, not nurses, not drugs or cleaning the damn place up – they spend it on “management”. Mostly external “management consultants” because the managers they hired can’t manage – so they need other people to manage the managers.

Look, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I’ve seen critical care in the States and I’ve seen it here. I’ve seen the standards of care and cleanliness in the States and I’ve seen it here. There is no contest. I rather be in the hospital in the States. Always.
kris´s last blog ..Bonnie Greer @ Centerprise (Dalston) 5 December My ComLuv Profile

 

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