§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current Department of Health and Social Security guidelines for provision of beds, equipment and staff in hospitals for the treatment of cancer patients.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleThe department has issued guidance to health authorities on the planning of acute hospital services for cancer patients in Health Circular HC(78)32 and in a report by a working group of the standing sub-committee on cancer of the department's standing medical advisory committee, which was sent to health authorities under cover of Health Notice HN(84)23. Copies of these documents are in the Library.
This guidance has recently been reviewed to take account of subsequent epidemiological and scientific developments. The review concluded that the minimum combination of equipment and staff for a viable unit has not significantly altered. However the use of radiotherapy has increased substantially, and is likely to continue to increase. Furthermore, the importance of access to a unit may have been underestimated.
Accordingly, the minimum catchment population needed to generate sufficient demand for a viable unit has fallen from the 1 million previously recommended. The precise figure for each unit will depend on local factors, including transport facilities and clinical practice. However, in normal circumstances the minimum would now be about two-thirds of a million.
The review nevertheless concluded that units larger than the minimum remain the ideal: they permit greater specialisation, which is especially valuable in this time of rapid change and development in cancer therapy; they are necessary for teaching purposes; and they reduce costs by making fuller use of ancillary equipment.