FARNHAM MP Jeremy Hunt has voiced serious concerns following the publication of new figures that reveal huge variations in the amount spent on cancer patients in different areas of the country. According to Mr Hunt, the new statistics reveal huge discrepancies in funding between Primary Care Trust areas: each cancer sufferer in Surrey receives £8,520 a year – by contrast, cancer sufferers in Nottingham receive £17,028 a year. The figures, Mr Hunt said, explain not only why inequalities in cancer death rates have widened during the present Government's 10 years in power, but also why access to drugs for the treatment of cancer varies so much across the country. Mr Hunt believes that since there are five times as many cancer patients in Surrey as there are in Nottingham, money spent on the disease in the county should reflect this patient differential. Mr Hunt said: "The Government's own statistics have revealed a huge disparity in funding for cancer services. I very much value the hard work by doctors and nurses in Surrey, but it is being hampered by central Government officials who are distributing health funding across the country unfairly. "This is yet another example of the inherent unfairness of the NHS funding formula, which takes no account of the needs of cancer patients, and manages to create a two-tier service. Unequal access to cancer care and treatment cannot be tackled while there are such large variations in funding." However, Government figures also show that Surrey PCT spent almost three times as much money on cancer - £96,043,000 in 2006/7 than Nottingham City PCT which spent £36,235,000. Surrey PCT argues that, because much of the money spent on cancer care is directed to technology and specialist staff which will be used by all cancer patients in the PCT area the comparison is unrealistic. To divide the number of cancer patients into the amount of money spent on cancer, both the PCT and the Department of Health say, is to over simplify cancer care provision across the UK. Ben Thomas, director of the Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire Cancer Network, is more positive about cancer care provision in Surrey and cited new services and technology that have been recently introduced by the PCT which demonstrate the trust's continued commitment to cancer patients in the county. Mr Thomas also argued that it is difficult to compare PCT cancer spending across the country as each trust has its own differing factors which determine the amount of money it will spend. Mr Thomas said: "There are 4,500 new cases of cancer diagnosed across Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire each year. The three PCTs that form part of the network, which includes Surrey PCT, are committed to improving services for people affected by cancer, in line with the NHS Cancer Plan. "Recently published figures show last year Surrey PCT spent over £96 million on cancer services. This figure includes the cost of specialist staff, cancer drugs, screening programmes, surgical procedures and other treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. "Surrey is slightly above the national average. The amount of money spent on cancer services will take a number of factors into account including the prevalence of cancer, the demographics and the needs of the local population. It is, therefore, difficult to use global figures to compare areas. "What these figures do show is that the NHS, both locally and nationally, is continuing to invest a huge amount of money to improve cancer care. "In Surrey we have employed more cancer specialists, including oncologists, surgeons and radiologists and palliative care consultants who work between hospital trusts and the community. "We have also improved our screening services and invested in new state-of-the-art equipment to help detect and treat cancer earlier in order to improve patient outcomes." A Department of Health spokesman said: "Cancer is a key priority for the Government. We are delivering better treatment to more people than ever before due to unprecedented levels of investment in cancer services. "Cancer mortality in people under 75 fell by over 17 per cent between 1996 and 2005 and the cancer mortality gap is reducing. "We are aware of the variations in the amount spent by different Primary Care Trusts on cancer patients and we expect them to take account of this new data when they commission services. "Our new Cancer Reform Strategy will enable us to develop world-class cancer services, saving more lives, spreading best practice and recommending what more needs to be done by Primary Care Trusts, cancer networks and providers of cancer services to further improve clinical outcomes and drive up quality to ensure patients get the care they deserve."
