About the Charter

THE STORY SO FAR

The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action was first launched in January 2003. Since then the Charter has developed a constructive partnership with government and other policy makers, resulting in encouraging progress in tackling the condition.

Our campaign has brought about some real policy change in prostate cancer over the last three years. Improvements include:

  • Launch of UK Prostate Link website
  • Pilot of decision making tools for patients
  • Extension of research funding
  • Publication of Department of Health report on prostate cancer services
  • New training course for treatment teams
  • Decision to review primary care information
  • Public awareness pilot

In October 2005, the Charter launched a second set of calls which were designed to deliver a real step-change in quality of care for both men with prostate cancer and their families.

Six priority actions for Government

  1. Bring patient experience up to the level of that reported by patients with other cancers by 2009.
  2. All cancer units to have specialist prostate cancer nurses by 2008.
  3. The UK should host a global summit on prostate cancer testing to co-ordinate research efforts to establish a more sensitive test for prostate cancer and establish global leadership on this issue.
  4. Stage an investigation into delays in the patient journey, including pathology, radiology and access to medicines.
  5. Develop primary care pilot projects of new models of helping men with prostate cancer and publish the review of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme to inform future training and communication with primary professionals.
  6. Launch a pilot public awareness programme and commit to act upon its findings.

THE CHARTER'S PRIORITIES

Though significant progress was made, the story of prostate cancer in the UK remains one of inequalities - in awareness, in outcomes and in the experiences reported by patients. Therefore in March 2008, the Charter launched four new calls in its current campaign The Countdown to Equality.

  1. Significantly reduce the number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer that has already spread
  2. Improve the cancer experience of men with prostate cancer to at least the level reported for other common cancers
  3. Level up clinical outcomes across the country so that all NHS services match the current best
  4. Plan effectively to deliver world class prostate cancer services in the future

The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action is funded by its signatories and is supplemented by additional funding from commercial partners for specific projects.

The Charter is co-ordinated by Mandate Communications.