Annette Brooke MP calls for more lung cancer nurses

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Annette Brooke MP calls for more lung cancer nurses

October 30, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Annette Brooke MP and Mid Dorset & North Poole Lib Dems

Annette Brooke

Mid Dorset and Poole North MP, Annette Brooke met with lung cancer specialist nurses from across the UK today to hear about the invaluable work they do in supporting patients with the disease. The nurses were in Westminster on the eve of November's Lung Cancer Awareness Month to call on Government to ensure every lung cancer patient has access to a specialist lung cancer nurse.

"Lung cancer specialist nurses play a vital role in supporting patients and their families," says Maria Guerin, chair of the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses, which is a member of the United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition. "Unfortunately there just aren't enough nurses compared to the number of patients diagnosed."

Lung cancer kills more than 34,000 people every year. More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer and the disease kills more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer and leukaemia combined.

Annette Brooke MP said: "Around 450 people in our area (Mid Dorset & North Poole) are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. I have no doubt that having access to a specialist nurse, like Maria, can make a world of difference for patients and their families. They work tirelessly to support patients when they need it most. Increasing the numbers of specialist nurses would mean more patients could have the dedicated advice and care they deserve."

According to recent figures, on average, there is one lung cancer nurse in England for every 132 people diagnosed with lung cancer, compared to 82 people per every breast cancer nurse."

"We need an extra 200 lung cancer specialist nurses in the UK to bring specialist nurse provision in line with some of the other major cancers," says Dame Gill Oliver, chair of the United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC), of which the NLCFN is a member.

The UKLCC believes that every lung cancer patient should have access to a lung cancer specialist nurse. This was a commitment in the Cancer Reform Strategy and recommended in NICE's Implementing Outcomes Guidance for Lung Cancer.

"Currently, access to a lung cancer nurse depends largely on where you live. Some patients will never see one," adds Dame Gill. "Without access to lung cancer nurses, patients will suffer as they will not have access to the in-depth nursing knowledge, care and support that lung cancer specialist nurses can provide."

With the help of nurses and other key health professionals, the UKLCC'S vision is to double lung cancer survival during the next seven to ten years and eradicate the huge inequalities that exist in lung cancer care. Currently, UK lung cancer survival is one of the worst in Europe with half of all lung cancer patients dying within six months.

"Lung cancer nurses are a valuable resource and also save NHS trusts money," adds Maria Guerin.

Indeed, a recent survey undertaken in partnership with the National Lung Cancer Nurses Forum shows lung cancer nurses in England carry out more than a total of 71,000 hours of unpaid overtime every year - saving employing trusts nearly £1.5m per annum.