Inequalities exist across the entire spectrum of health and wellbeing. People facing different levels of access to preventative means, timely diagnosis, and treatment options will also face differing abilities to live well and, in some cases, survive for longer. Our goal at Pancreatic Cancer UK is to ensure anybody facing pancreatic cancer is offered consistent, reliable and effective support. We are proud to lead efforts to transform outcomes for those affected by this devastating disease, which has a 5-year survival rate of only around 7% in Scotland.
As a charity, one of our key objectives is to ensure high-quality treatment and care is available everywhere, regardless of where or how patients enter the health system. Our Optimal Care Pathway initiative for pancreatic cancer was launched to tackle the significant regional variation (e.g. across health boards) in the treatment and care people are offered when diagnosed with this cancer, resulting in gaps in patient outcomes such as quality of life and one-year survival rates.
In consultation with 300 stakeholders with both clinical and lived experience of pancreatic cancer, we were able to design six clear recommendations aimed at providing fairer care, faster diagnosis, and faster treatment for patients. In the coming months and years, we are aiming to work with both national and local health systems to help make the Optimal Care Pathway a reality everywhere.
Delivering fairer care is why we are excited to be exhibiting at the CLW conference for the first time. In our vision for the Optimal Care Pathway, we highlight the need for stronger bonds and co-ordination between clinical and community settings; so we look forward to speaking to you all in how we can work together to support all people affected by pancreatic cancer across Scotland.
Finally, we’d like to signpost to an upcoming event we’re hosting that may be of interest:
Please join us for a free, virtual education session to find out the most important things you need to know when supporting people with pancreatic cancer in the community. We know it’s impossible for you to know everything about pancreatic cancer given the range of patients with different conditions you’ll see, which is why we’ve designed a session specifically for health professionals working in the community focussing on the key information you need to know and where you can find further support. Hosted by specialist nurses, we’ll explore symptom management, including diet, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) and diabetes, as well as sharing case studies and hearing from people affected by pancreatic cancer about their experience.
Come along to get practical tips and guidance to help you provide the best support and care to people with pancreatic cancer in the community, find out more and sign up now.
See you on the 7th, and please come and say hello to us at our stand!
Tom Steiner is Engagement Officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland, at Pancreatic Cancer UK. You can reach out to Tom by email here.
