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Written question asked by George Howarth (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 December 2021. It was answered by Maria Caulfield (Conservative) on Monday, 20 December 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Chemotherapy

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to promote the delivery of non-acute chemotherapy at home as opposed to in a traditional hospital setting.

Answer

All National Health Service (NHS) Trusts delivering chemotherapy services have the flexibility to put in place out of hospital chemotherapy services – this assessment should be made locally, in conjunction with the wider healthcare system, and should take account of population health needs as well as workforce capacity and overall delivery of the chemotherapy service.

Decisions about out of hospital chemotherapy delivery should be taken by Trusts and their health system partners. However, as part of pandemic recovery, the NHS is seeking to retain the beneficial changes that were introduced during the pandemic, this could include virtual consultations and home delivery of oral medications.

Whilst no formal assessment of funding models has taken place, strengthening system integration and place-based commissioning is an essential component of pandemic recovery. The NHS is planning to continue the transition to system-based financial allocations and enabling local systems to make decisions about payment models that best serve their population’s health needs. Where out of hospital chemotherapy is seen as a priority, local systems will be able to incentivise this.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
91841
Session
2021-22
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Chemotherapy
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk