Prostate Charter For Action's Calls

The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action launched its second set of calls in October 2005, to build on the progress made over the past 3 years.

ACTION ON RESOURCES

Recent improvements in prostate cancer treatment have only been possible because of increased investment and resources but there are areas which still need to be addressed:

  • Capacity limitations can lead to unnecessary delays in men’s treatment. We call for an investigation into why delays occur, looking at all stages of the care pathway including pathology, and radiology, and suggesting alternative solutions, which may involve concentrating these functions into centres of excellence.
  • A shortage of specialist prostate cancer nurses is having an impact on patient care. We call for specialist nurses to be appointed to all prostate cancer treatment units, with standardised funding for specialist nurse posts, focused training and national recognition for prostate cancer nurses and their integration into MDT teams.
  • New treatments have the potential to significantly improve men’s health outcomes. We call for resources to properly evaluate through clinical trial the growing range of new techniques and treatments and for these to be introduced as standard if they are shown to be effective.
  • Fundamental research into prostate cancer is essential to beating the disease, particularly through a better understanding of how to predict the aggressiveness of tumours. We call for research budgets to be increased so that this vital work is not constrained.

ACTION ON PATIENT CARE

The quality of treatment varies across the country which means that some men have worse outcomes and a poorer patient experience than they should:

  • Some of the variation derives from a lack of understanding and awareness of prostate cancer among primary care providers. Innovative ways to improve primary care must be found, including ongoing training and education.
  • All men must have access to standardised information and support as they make choices about their treatment, letting them weigh up issues such as efficacy and quality of life. This should be based on evidence from clinical trials and supported by decision-making aids.
  • A man’s options should not be limited through lack of access to treatment; all treatments which have proved effective should be available to all men, and be provided by appropriate experts.
  • Care should be co-ordinated using a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach at every stage of treatment and men should be offered consultations with all members of the care team

Some cancer networks have still to implement the Improving Outcomes Guidance in Urological Cancers, which set the standards that all NHS services should deliver.

ACTION ON TRANSPARENCY

Sharing information with patients, professionals and the voluntary sector enables all stakeholders to make an informed contribution. We welcome the Government’s increasing openness and the “Making Progress on Prostate Cancer” report. However, the primary purpose of transparency must be to drive up standards:

  • National data must be collected and used to explore variations, particularly in service standards. We support the publication of individual and organisational performance data to help target improvements and assist patient choice.
  • “Making Progress on Prostate Cancer” provides an excellent snapshot of the current position. It should now be used as a baseline to investigate the resources required to meet future needs, and this investigation should actively involve all partners.

The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action has secured partnership funding to establish a National Prostate Cancer Website. UK Prostate Link is the first intelligent signposting website of its kind. The Department of Health is contributing £100,000 to its development with the Charter signatories providing £50,000 over three years.

ACTION ON PUBLIC AWARENESS

As with all cancers, patients who are diagnosed earlier have a greater range of treatment options.  Those at risk of prostate cancer must be aware of what the prostate is and what it does, and possible symptoms, and must be encouraged to seek early help and advice:

  • We call for a male-friendly education programme to be piloted based on the messages in the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme and those now agreed by the DH and all signatories
  • This should be targeted initially at those most likely to present with curable prostate cancer and should be evaluated against agreed objectives. If the objectives are met the programme should be rolled out nationally