Cancer Care (Hansard, 13 July 1999)

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of using(a) flexible sigmoidoscopy and (b) Haemocult screening in diagnosing for colorectal cancer; and if he will make a statement. [89094]

§ Mr. Hutton
A large-scale study by the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, about the use of flexible sigmoidoscopy in the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer in symptomatic patients has recently been completed. We will assess the conclusions of that study when it is published at the end of the year.
We have commissioned two pilot sites to test the feasibility and public acceptability of screening for colorectal cancer. The pilots will initially use Haemocult technology for Faecal Occult Blood testing, which has previously been proven in robust research trials.

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spends annually on(a) cancer treatment drugs and (b) laxatives. [89095]

§ Mr. Hutton
In 1998, the net ingredient cost of drugs used in the treatment of cancer and dispensed in the community in England was £96.1 million. Information about the condition for which drugs are dispensed is not available centrally, and therefore some of these drugs may have been used to treat other conditions.
In 1998, the net ingredient cost of laxatives dispensed in the community in England was £47.0 million.
Information on drugs dispensed in hospitals is not available centrally.
The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the patient information packs to be produced under the Cancer Information Strategy will be available on an internet web site; and if he will make a statement. [89085]

§ Mr. Hutton
The National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) will provide information about cancer services.
It is intended that access for health care professionals to the electronic Library will be through the National Health Service's own secure intranet (NHSnet), and that patients and the public will be able to access it through other routes, one of which is likely to be the internet. It is intended that patient information packs will be made available through the public floor of the NeLH.
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The NHS Information Authority will be considering the business case for the NeLH in the near future, with the expectation of having a prototype in operation before the end of the year.

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to make cancer care services more patient-centred. [89093]

§ Mr. Hutton
We are committed to the development of patient-centred care across the National Health Service. It is at the heart of the Calman/Hine report, "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services". Patients should be closely involved in decisions about their care and clear information about treatment options and outcomes should be available at all stages.
We are committed to patient-centred care, support and information for both patients and also for families and carers. A recent cancer summit hosted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister was opened by a presentation from a patient. We are also pleased to be supporting the Macmillan campaign, "A Voice for Life", by assisting in the distribution of a cancer information booklet to every patient diagnosed with cancer.
We have set up a new Cancer Care Action Group, to bring together leading cancer voluntary organisations and the NHS to assist with identifying and implementing improvements to the quality of care offered to patients and their families.