22 July 2005
The NHS is profiting from cancer patients who are forced to spend hundreds of pounds in travelling costs, a leading charity claimed this week.
Macmillan Cancer Relief said that travel to and from hospital was costing cancer patients an average of £380 over the course of their treatment, while three out of four hospitals were making money from charging patients for parking.
Increasingly, cancer treatment is conducted on a day-case basis, forcing patients to travel more, but saving hospitals £200 per patient per day, according to Macmillan's July 19 report. The centralisation of services at specialist hospitals also intensifies travelling requirements, the charity said.
Macmillan wants some of these financial gains to be reinvested in support for patients.
Chief executive Peter Cardy said: 'It is outrageous that cancer patients should have the added stress of trying to find the money to travel for their life-saving treatment, as if having cancer isn't stressful enough.
'That's why Macmillan is calling on the government to allow all cancer patients to get help with travel costs.'
Cardy added that not enough was being done to inform cancer patients of the help available to them from the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme.
He also criticised the scheme for failing to cover the expense of overnight accommodation and visitors' travelling costs.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: 'Primary care trusts, who are responsible for deciding how local services are organised and patients supported, can also offer assistance to patients who need help with travel costs.'
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