British government has decreed all hospitals in Britain, to furnish comparative charts that mention the time period spend by cancer patients at hospitals in Britain. This is to understand cancer survival rates better.
It will help cancer survivors to choose which hospital would be the most beneficial for their care.The British Health secretary Patricia Hewitt announced a cancer reform strategy yesterday, at a conference in London. This conference was conducted by the organization, Britain against Cancer.Experts believe that developing league tables would play a very important role in providing comparative success rates of various hospitals to patients. However, the British Medical Association is apprehensive that league tables could project a false impression. BMA expressed the opinion that the comparative charts may show doctors in remote hospitals in poor light. Owing to severity of illness patients may have longer stays in remote hospitals. The data in tabular information may also miss out on vital information like the type of illness, severity of disease, age of the patient. Even extremely good doctors and institutions, can be put down in the league tables.
The intention of creating such league tables is to make available to cancer survivors, the very best treatment available. The expectations of the people are high and they hope to benefit from the technologically advanced medical treatment plans available through the NHS. Apparently the number of cancer patients in England is on the rise. The figures are expected to increase thrice the present number by 2010. The Cancer Reform Strategy will pay attention to quality and choice of treatment, and value for money for all cancer patients.
Source-Medindia
MST
