Cancer care

Monday, 08 Feb 2010 11:18

Lansley: How will they pay?

Monday, 08, Feb 2010 12:00

Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary, comments on Labour's cancer care proposals:

"Cancer nurses do a fantastic job and we know it makes a really big difference to cancer patients and their families to have a named specialist looking after them. It is important that we do everything we can for people suffering from such debilitating conditions. It would be great if we could afford to provide a nurse like this for every cancer patient.

"However, it is unclear how the government plans to pay for this. Just last year Labour cut the amount the NHS spent on each cancer patient by £650. Given that we know that Labour are planning even further cuts to NHS spending in the years ahead, I’m worried that they are not being straight with the public. It is very difficult to see how they will be able to fund their pledge for one-to-one nursing.

"Also, Labour have promised this before and haven’t delivered. As far back as 2003 they were promising that each patient would have a ‘named nurse’ to coordinate their care for cancer."

Devane: Welcome news

Brown: Strength and commitment

Lansley: How will they pay?

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