§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in the last year for which figures are available, how many people in each NHS region who are receiving palliative chemotherapy to relieve the symptoms of inoperable non-small lung cancer are aged(a) under 29, (b) 30 to 49, (c) 50 to 64, (d) 65 to 74, (e) 75 to 84 and (f) 85 years and over. [103950]
§ Yvette CooperInformation on the number of people in each NHS region receiving palliative chemotherapy for inoperable non-small cell lung cancer by age group is not available.
Evidence based guidance "Improving Outcomes in Lung Cancer" published in June 1998 has been sent to all commissioners and providers of lung cancer services and concentrates on those aspects of services which are likely to have a significant impact on health outcomes. The guidance is intended to support the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine report. The guidance makes it clear that palliative care should be an integral part of patient management for all lung cancer patients from the outset, including chemotherapy where appropriate.