This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7281680.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Faster breast reconstruction call | Faster breast reconstruction call |
| (2 days later) | |
| Only one in 10 women with breast cancer is getting reconstructive surgery when they have a mastectomy, an audit shows. | Only one in 10 women with breast cancer is getting reconstructive surgery when they have a mastectomy, an audit shows. |
| National guidance recommended in 2002 that women were offered the chance to have the operations done in one go. | National guidance recommended in 2002 that women were offered the chance to have the operations done in one go. |
| But analysis found a postcode lottery in England and Wales in access, funding and information. A quarter of trusts offered no choice on the operations. | But analysis found a postcode lottery in England and Wales in access, funding and information. A quarter of trusts offered no choice on the operations. |
| Experts say performing the operations together minimises the psychological impact of losing a breast. | Experts say performing the operations together minimises the psychological impact of losing a breast. |
| The number of patients needing surgery for breast cancer is rising every year. | The number of patients needing surgery for breast cancer is rising every year. |
| There was a 37% increase in the total number of operations performed for breast cancer in the NHS in England between 1997 and 2006 due to increasing incidence of the disease. | There was a 37% increase in the total number of operations performed for breast cancer in the NHS in England between 1997 and 2006 due to increasing incidence of the disease. |
| This is all about a postcode lottery - some areas have invested more in breast cancer services and reconstructive surgery than others Chris Caddy, consultant plastic surgeon 'Women should not have to beg' | This is all about a postcode lottery - some areas have invested more in breast cancer services and reconstructive surgery than others Chris Caddy, consultant plastic surgeon 'Women should not have to beg' |
| The National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit concluded this was putting considerable pressures on breast cancer services. | The National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit concluded this was putting considerable pressures on breast cancer services. |
| Over the 10-year period, the proportion of all women who had immediate reconstruction increased from 7% to 11%, suggesting guidance has not been implemented. | Over the 10-year period, the proportion of all women who had immediate reconstruction increased from 7% to 11%, suggesting guidance has not been implemented. |
| The audit found funding problems, concerns about hitting government treatment targets and poor communication between clinicians were all barriers for immediate reconstruction. | The audit found funding problems, concerns about hitting government treatment targets and poor communication between clinicians were all barriers for immediate reconstruction. |
| And a quarter of trusts did not offer women the choice at all. | And a quarter of trusts did not offer women the choice at all. |
| Training of staff is also an issue in some areas as they are doing too few reconstructive surgeries a year and a fifth of trusts do not employ a specialist team. | Training of staff is also an issue in some areas as they are doing too few reconstructive surgeries a year and a fifth of trusts do not employ a specialist team. |
| Experts say having the mastectomy and reconstruction in one operation reduces the number of operations a woman has to go through and also minimises the psychological impact of losing a breast. | Experts say having the mastectomy and reconstruction in one operation reduces the number of operations a woman has to go through and also minimises the psychological impact of losing a breast. |
| Although for some women with aggressive disease or who need radiotherapy, reconstruction cannot be done immediately. | Although for some women with aggressive disease or who need radiotherapy, reconstruction cannot be done immediately. |
| Little progress | Little progress |
| John Browne, senior lecturer in health services research at the Royal College of Surgeons Clinical Effectiveness Unit said there had been little improvement in access to immediate reconstruction after mastectomy. | John Browne, senior lecturer in health services research at the Royal College of Surgeons Clinical Effectiveness Unit said there had been little improvement in access to immediate reconstruction after mastectomy. |
| "Current funding arrangements in the NHS, cancer waiting list targets and problems with the information and support provided to patients while making their decision about breast reconstruction may have contributed to this lack of progress." | "Current funding arrangements in the NHS, cancer waiting list targets and problems with the information and support provided to patients while making their decision about breast reconstruction may have contributed to this lack of progress." |
| Jonathan Boyce, head of clinical audits at the Healthcare Commission, who commissioned the work, said it was important women were offered the choice. | Jonathan Boyce, head of clinical audits at the Healthcare Commission, who commissioned the work, said it was important women were offered the choice. |
| "These preliminary results show that not enough women have access to immediate reconstruction, and this needs to be addressed." | "These preliminary results show that not enough women have access to immediate reconstruction, and this needs to be addressed." |
| Chris Caddy, consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, said every women for whom it was appropriate should be offered immediate reconstruction and that was not happening. | Chris Caddy, consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, said every women for whom it was appropriate should be offered immediate reconstruction and that was not happening. |
| "This is all about a postcode lottery - some areas have invested more in breast cancer services and reconstructive surgery than others." | "This is all about a postcode lottery - some areas have invested more in breast cancer services and reconstructive surgery than others." |
| He added that the next stage of the audit would follow thousands of women more closely to find out what they were being offered and what information they were being given. | He added that the next stage of the audit would follow thousands of women more closely to find out what they were being offered and what information they were being given. |
| The audit is the first of its kind in the world and is due to complete in December 2010. | The audit is the first of its kind in the world and is due to complete in December 2010. |
| Anna Wood, head of policy and campaigns for Breast Cancer Care, said the findings were "totally unacceptable". | Anna Wood, head of policy and campaigns for Breast Cancer Care, said the findings were "totally unacceptable". |
| "While some patients we talk to have chosen to delay reconstructive surgery until much later after their initial treatment, the option of immediate reconstruction should be offered to all throughout England and Wales, as set out under existing NICE guidelines." | "While some patients we talk to have chosen to delay reconstructive surgery until much later after their initial treatment, the option of immediate reconstruction should be offered to all throughout England and Wales, as set out under existing NICE guidelines." |
| Health minister Ann Keen said she wanted to see services across the country reach the standards of the best. | Health minister Ann Keen said she wanted to see services across the country reach the standards of the best. |
| Further guidance from NICE on surgical management and breast reconstruction is expected next year. | Further guidance from NICE on surgical management and breast reconstruction is expected next year. |