THERE is a “postcode lottery” in cancer services that improve patients’ quality of life and provide urgent care, experts warned today.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), UK Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (UKASCC) and Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) called for urgent investment in supportive and acute oncology.

These services must be “essential components of modern cancer care” rather than “optional extras,” they said.

Supportive oncology addresses the impact of cancer, including nutrition advice and mental health support.

Acute oncology brings together experts from oncology, emergency and end-of-life care to treat patients with emergencies caused by cancer or its treatment.

An RCR report found that supportive oncology service provision remains inconsistent, creating a “postcode lottery” in access to care.

The colleges urged the NHS and governments to embed the services in the national cancer plan, expand clinical fellowships and provide funding for cancer centres to develop programmes. 

It comes as the government pledges to move more care into the community by 2035 in its 10-year health plan.

Dr Tom Roques of RCR said: “More people are living with cancer for longer, with complexities that affect their physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

“As the NHS moves towards more neighbourhood-based care, investing in supportive oncology services will help patients get holistic care closer to home, and relieve pressure on hospitals.”

An NHS spokesperson said the 10-year health plan outlines “some of the ways we will transform care to be fit for the future” and that the upcoming cancer plan will “build on that for people” with cancer.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it is investing an extra £1.5 billion in new surgical hubs and AI scanners, and is opening new community diagnostic centres.