National Assembly for Wales
Health and Social Services Committee
Review of Cancer Services for the People of Wales
| Name of respondent:Gareth Owen on behalf of Mrs Gwenda Wynne who represents the Meirionnydd area on the Patient Liaison Group (PLG) at the Cancer Centre, Glan Clwyd Hospital. |
| Are you responding on behalf of an organisation?Yes |
| If so please give the name Meirionnydd Community Health Council |
| Address:Gareth Owen - Prif Swyddog / Chief Officer Cyngor Iechyd Cymuned Meirionnydd Community Health Council Beechwood House Dolgellau Gwynedd LL40 1AU |
| Telephone number:01341 422236 FfacsFax: 01341 422897 |
| Would you be willing to give oral evidence to the Committee? No |
| If the evidence you give below is your personal view, rather then that of an organisation, please state whether or not you are willing for your evidence to be published by putting a X in the appropriate box below: |
| I am content for my evidence to be published X |
| I am not content for my evidence to be published |
| 1 | How can information technology be used more effectively to track and facilitate the patient’s journey? |
| Response | |
| 2 | How effectively is research and good practice being integrated with service delivery? What can be done and by whom to improve this? |
| Response | |
| 3 | What are your views on the complexity of commissioning services? Is the process hampered by the involvement of the local health boards, cancer networks and Health Commission Wales? How could it simplified? |
| Response | There appear to be too many commissioners currently. However we have concerns that if numbers are reduced and become population based we again lose out in the rural areas. Palliative care in rural areas is poor and there is not the equity of access. There is not sufficient attention given to rural areas since the change in GP hours under the new contract. In 1992 I had a great deal of support from the District Nurses and Family GP. |
| 4 | What evidence is there of the value of screening and immunisation? |
| Response | Screening would reduce costs by early diagnosis |
| 5 | What are the barriers to the NHS in Wales keeping abreast of, and responding to, developing technologies and therapies? How might these barriers be overcome? |
| Response | |
| 6 | How can the NHS and the voluntary sector work together more effectively to deliver services? |
| Response | Use of voluntary sector as members of the PLG at the North Wales Cancer Centre is an excellent example where patients have a voice to improve services. Representatives from the PLG in the Palliative Care DON have been welcomed and listened to. |
| 7 | How can the collection and use of data on where the terminally ill spend their last weeks or months be improved better to inform service provision for those people? |
| Response | Collection of data necessary- but method of funding needs changing to provide a service for those people in rural areas. Consideration must be given to the geographical and rural situation. Funding per head of the population for Palliative Care in rural areas will never give an equal service. |
| 8 | There are a number of issues around prescribing and the cost of drugs: |
| 8(i) | What should be done and by whom to reduce continued prescribing of inappropriate drugs? |
| Response | |
| 8(ii) | Should people who are prepared to pay privately for drugs not available to them on the NHS, be able to do so without having to become private patients and having to pay for all their treatment? |
| Response | |
| 8(iii) | Do doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals have adequate access to independent advice and guidance on the prescribing of drugs? |
| Response | |
| 9 | Are services centred on the patient, with service users consulted? If not what are the reasons for this and how patient involvement be improved? |
| Response |
