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Macmillan pushes for better cancer care. We want everyone living with or beyond cancer to receive the best possible treatment and support, regardless of who they are, where they live or what type of cancer they have.
Whether our campaigns focus on raising public awareness, or involve working with politicians or other decision makers, they all have one common goal - to make a positive and permanent change to the lives of people affected by cancer.
Read our briefing on our 2012 campaigning priorities here|.
The vast majority of cancer patients (73%) would prefer to die at home, but currently only 27% are able to do so. Macmillan wants all patients on an end of life care locality register to have access to free social care to enable them to die at home if they so choose.
This is not only better for patients and their families, it could provide cost savings by enabling patients to be discharged more quickly from hospital, preventing unnecessary admissions and costly hospital stays. A joint report by Healthcare at Home and Dr Foster estimates that delivering end of life services in the home could save the NHS £160 million per year.
In the recent Care and Support White Paper the government stated that it sees 'much merit' in making social care free for people at the end of life and has committed to assessing this recommendation. Find out more about our campaign here|.
The government is currently making significant changes to the NHS in England. The focus of Macmillan’s work will be on ensuring the quality of cancer services is maintained in the reformed NHS and that cancer networks| are fully embedded into the new system.
Macmillan wants to work with parliamentarians and decision makers to:
Ensure the viability of cancer networks by officially establishing them as Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) and that their role in improving cancer services will be strengthened in the new NHS.
Improve the quality of cancer services in the new NHS by ensuring that the accountability frameworks of the NHS Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups:
The Welfare Reform Bill received royal assent on 8 March. Macmillan campaigned throughout the last 18 months to ensure the benefits system continues to provide the right support to cancer patients.
Most people with cancer who are out of work because of their condition want to work. We welcome government commitment to ensuring more cancer patients are given access to the Support Group, and that they avoid a stressful and unnecessary medical assessment.
Macmillan is committed to working with the government to ensure that:
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The All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer brings together MPs and Peers to help improve cancer services and keep cancer at the top of the political agenda.