MP calls for standards for better prostate cancer care

Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton, has expressed support for work being undertaken by The Prostate Cancer Charity to identify a national set of standards of quality prostate cancer care.

After a wide-ranging consultation with people affected by prostate cancer, The Prostate Cancer Charity has compiled a draft set of standards that set out what good quality care looks like.

The Charity is now calling on men who have been affected by prostate cancer, their partners and healthcare professionals to provide feedback on the standards, to ensure they reflect the care men with prostate cancer need.

Once finalised, The Prostate Cancer Charity will be working with the Government, health professionals and commissioners to ensure these standards are implemented across the country, so that men everywhere receive the same high quality care – regardless of where they live.

Mr Dobbin said: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, which is why I believe it’s essential we know exactly what people affected by the disease require and expect from our health service.

“I am therefore delighted to back calls for national standards of care, and would urge anyone with direct or indirect experience of the disease to feed back on The Prostate Cancer Charity’s draft standards. Men everywhere deserve quality prostate cancer care, and delivering that is what this initiative is all about.”

Mr Dobbin signed up to the campaign at a special event held at the Houses of Parliament last week where he met people affected by prostate cancer.

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “It’s fantastic that Jim has backed our call, and I look forward working with him over the months ahead to make this a reality.

“We need national standards of quality prostate cancer care to ensure that healthcare providers and NHS staff know what services and level of care they should be providing to patients. We also need standards to ensure that men who have, or are concerned about, prostate cancer know exactly what level of care and support they are entitled to receive.

“Before we finalise our standards we need to be absolutely clear that they reflect what men with prostate cancer want – which is why we want to hear from as many people with experience of the disease as possible.”

To view and give feedback on The Prostate Cancer Charity’s draft standards of quality prostate cancer care visit: www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/takeaction To receive a hard copy by post, call 0208 222 7173.