National Assembly for Wales
Health and Social Services Committee
Review of Cancer Services for the People of Wales
| Name of respondent:Gillian L Whiteham |
| Are you responding on behalf of an organisation? |
| If so please give the name Neath & Port Talbot CHC |
| Address:Suite B Ty Britannic Llandarcy Neath SA10 6JQ |
| Telephone number:01792 324201 |
| Would you be willing to give oral evidence to the Committee? |
| 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 | I.T would be more effective if every hospital and GP practice was on the same system, therefore patients’ information would pass instantly to any hospital the patient attends. |
| 2 | How effectively is research and good practice being integrated with service delivery? What can be done and by whom to improve this? |
| Response | In the main effective, but communication to patients is still poor in some areas. |
| 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 | Commissions is complex. I believe it should be done on a regional basis, i.e North Wales, Mid & West Wales, South East Wales.Health Commission Wales 'muddy the water’. |
| 4 | What evidence is there of the value of screening and immunisation? |
| Response | There is evidence that cervical screening and regular mammograms is valuable. |
| 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 | Lack of human and monetary resources. |
| 6 | How can the NHS and the voluntary sector work together more effectively to deliver services? |
| Response | A better understanding from the NHS as to the role of voluntary agencies. Regular meetings with commissioners and all voluntary services in their area would avoid duplication. |
| 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 | Analysis of data in the past has not been objective. |
| 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 | More training on interaction of drugs for hospital doctor & GPs. A pharmacist should always be a member of the multi-disciplinary team. |
| 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 | Yes, as long as the drugs are licensed in this country. |
| 8(iii) | Do doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals have adequate access to independent advice and guidance on the prescribing of drugs? |
| Response | Not sure. |
| 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 | I believe the professionals feel the services are centred around the patient, but in the main it is not. Patients will cancer move around hospitals and teams because they cannot always be dealt with by the consultant. The whole situation is complex and confusing. The setting up of cancer centres within the grounds of acute hospitals would at least mean that patients could visit their surgeon and oncologist at the same time.Patient groups are useful. |
