Written Question · S2W-19992 · Session 2
Whether it has any plans to decentralise cancer screening and treatment services in the west of Scotland, given that the east of Scotland h…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to decentralise cancer screening and treatment services in the west of Scotland, given that the east of Scotland has four centres and the west has one.
The answer
Decisions on where cancer treatment is provided are clinically based and are agreed between doctor and patient. As far as possible and dependent on the type of tumour and treatment requirements, arrangements are made to treat patients as close to home as possible.
Delivering for Health sets the direction for NHS services for the future with services delivered as locally as possible, when that can be done safely and sustainably, but with prompt access to specialised services when necessary.
The Scottish Executive and NHSScotland are constantly seeking to develop the service in line with patients’ needs, taking into account patient safety which is paramount. However, in some cases, treatment requirements are so highly specialised that they are available only in Cancer Centres e.g. radiotherapy and some forms of chemotherapy.
There are five cancer centres in Scotland in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. Outreach services and some treatments for cancer are also available in local hospitals.
There are six breast screening centres in Scotland in Glasgow, Irvine, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. To enable ease of access the Scottish Breast Screening Programme also operate 18 mobile units throughout the country.
Delivering for Health sets the direction for NHS services for the future with services delivered as locally as possible, when that can be done safely and sustainably, but with prompt access to specialised services when necessary.
The Scottish Executive and NHSScotland are constantly seeking to develop the service in line with patients’ needs, taking into account patient safety which is paramount. However, in some cases, treatment requirements are so highly specialised that they are available only in Cancer Centres e.g. radiotherapy and some forms of chemotherapy.
There are five cancer centres in Scotland in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. Outreach services and some treatments for cancer are also available in local hospitals.
There are six breast screening centres in Scotland in Glasgow, Irvine, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. To enable ease of access the Scottish Breast Screening Programme also operate 18 mobile units throughout the country.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-19992 by reference.