Picture shows members of the Trust cancer services team who won a Team of the Year title at the Trust’s annual staff Pride Awards in June. Dr Paul Mansour is pictured right. Picture “Baker Lodge Studios”
Cancer survival rates in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire are the most improved in England.
MPs on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer reported patients in the area showed the most improvement nationally in one-year cancer survival rates between 2011 and 2012.
In Southport and Formby, 72% of patients survived cancer for more than 12 months against 70% the previous year and in West Lancashire the figure was 72.2% against 70.1% in 2011.
Survival rates were already above the national average of 69% and the figures also showed West Lancashire in the top 10 best performing areas of the country.
Dr Paul Mansour, clinical lead for cancer and deputy medical director at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted to see that our areas are the two most improved areas in the entire country for one-year cancer survival.
“This is very good news for our patients because these improvements reflect earlier diagnosis and earlier, better treatment of cancer. The figures also speak volumes about the hard work and professionalism of our fantastic cancer teams, local GPs and NHS commissioning colleagues.”
People who survive cancer after one year are more likely to be alive five years later, matching Nordic countries which have some of the best cancer survival rates in Europe. However, where the UK as a whole is significantly weaker than Nordic countries is in making sure patients reach the important one-year anniversary.
Early diagnosis is a key factor in treating cancer effectively and it is believed many people leave it too late, reducing their chances of surviving more than a year.
For example, around a quarter of cancer patients in England are diagnosed as emergency cases which means they are on average twice as likely to die within a year compared to people diagnosed by an urgent GP referral.
Dr Graeme Allan, Macmillan GP and Cancer Lead for NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “It is extremely gratifying to see that the work we are doing as a CCG, together with the hospital and our wider partners, is beginning to make a real difference to the lives of our patients. We know there is more to do but we are clearly making good progress. To strengthen this further, we are putting new systems in place to make sure that people coming to see their GP with concerns have much quicker access to cancer testing, which we know makes a real difference to their treatment, recovery and survival.”
Dr Jack Kinsey, Macmillan GP and GP executive lead for NHS West Lancashire CCG said: “The report showed West Lancashire is in the top 10 for best one year cancer survival rate. This is good news for West Lancashire patients and is a tribute to the hard work of local GPs and the hospitals and other services that our patients use. We will continue to work hard and improve our position.”
The Trust is joining forces with Macmillan Cancer Information and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group at a free health and well-being clinic in Southport on Thursday 9th July. The event at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre is an opportunity to find out how to access local support, information and advice to help patients and their families adjust to life with and beyond cancer. It will run from 4pm to 6.30pm. Places are free but limited, booking is essential. For information or to book a place contact Helen, Barbara or Sarah at the Southport Macmillan Information and Support Centre on 0151 288 6893 orSFCCG.macmillancic@nhs.net
Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07581350321
Email ots@otsnews.co.uk
Facebook www.facebook.com/otsnews.co.uk
Twitter www.twitter.com/onthespot_news
Breaking local news as it happens, searchable archives with photographs, the ability to instantly comment on news articles – there are so many advantages to OTS (Onthespot) News.
If you want your news read locally online then send it to ots@otsnews.co.uk – relying only on the newspaper is to restrict yourself to an ever reducing audience.
OTS News on Social Media