Research revealed by the Commission for Rural Communities shows that the

lives of Torridge residents could be improved by reforming rural cancer

care services.

The research reported insights from patients, their families

and service provides which show that living in the rural districts can affect

the quality of cancer care.

Particular challenges are faced by residents with difficult or costly

journeys to hospital, and also with running awareness campaigns and screening

services in rural areas.

Torridge District Council Lead Member for Health, Cllr Adam Symons, said: “The provision of

care for discharged cancer patients who live a long distance from health

services is a real concern. We know that services are getting better. However,

often this involves amalgamating specialist services. This leads to greater

costs for patients and their families, as this report shows.”

“Problems are acute in rural areas with poor public transport, such as

Torridge. This is exacerbated by problems finding volunteer drivers to take

patients to cancer services.”

During the report’s research, rural patients spoke of painful and

discomforting regular and lengthy journeys to remote treatment centres. Those

without access to public transport often faced considerably increased

travelling costs.

Macmillan chief executive Ciarán Devane said cancer patients often faced

long-term physical and emotional problems.

“More people are surviving cancer and the NHS needs to focus more attention

on meeting their long term needs.

People who had finished treatment for cancer were often overlooked by health

and social care services.

Those living in sparsely populated rural areas can suffer

the greatest isolation and more needs to be done to help them.”