If it wins the general election, Labour has said cancer patients will be offered one-to-one nursing and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy at home instead of in the hospital.
The party’s manifesto centrepiece promises “personalised healthcare” and comes on the back of announcements already made on giving patients legally binding rights on waiting times and treatment.
Results of tests for cancer will be supplied within a week, according to Labour, and anyone requiring to be treated for the disease will start their treatment within 18 weeks. The manifesto said those who are not treated within this timeframe will be offered private treatment, paid by the NHS.
Everyone over the age of 40 will get annual “health MOTs” from their GP and more doctors’ surgeries will open 8am to 8pm, with additional health services “on the high street”, the manifesto claims.
According to Labour, the NHS could save millions by providing more care within people’s communities. The manifesto also said treatments such as kidney dialysis can increasingly be done at home or more locally and services such as scans and X-rays will be able to be provided by GPs.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
Related blog: Election fever has led to manifesto mania – someone call a doctor
