NCEPOD Report
PATIENTS ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS NCEPOD REPORT
The Patients Association applauds the Chairman of NCEPOD (National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death), Professor Treasure, for his forthright comments and calls on the Government to ensure patients get the changes he calls for.
"This report is all about information - or the lack of it. It confirms too many clinicians have a cavalier attitude to providing information on cancer outcomes, when they should be doing everything in their power to raise standards and give full information to their patients. Those who refused to co-operate with this report, despite repeated requests from the cancer "Czar" and others, is shameful" commented Katherine Murphy, Director.
"It is simple. Clinicians who avoid scrutiny or audit should not receive public money. Taxpayers should not have to fund those who perepetuate the postcode lottery. Clinical outcomes should be available to patients. Clinical trials must be publicised and made accessible. Different clinical disciplines must communicate information to their patients in a seamless way. Above all, patients must have full understanding and information about all these things before they can be said to have given consent. Partial consent is no consent. Treatment without consent is an offence. Patients deserve better than this at all times and especially at the end of life".
The Patients Association has campaigned for many years for a standard consent form, and welcomes the Report's support for this and for advance directives.
For further information contact Katherine Murphy or Vanessa Bourne on 020 8423 9111.
