Health care for cancer patients in the Nhs

I am from the states but once in the hospital with a cancer diagnosis, someone from psych is automatically sent to see you as part of your care team.  I agree with you...it should be an automatic visit.  It wasn't always that way here and still isn't in many places.

hello, please read first entry of my blog here, my father was not interested in receiving treatment for psychologicial issues related to dying, but his anxieties were largely brushed under the carpet. it is the care he had whilst dying that remains a very difficult issue.

the macmillan nurses that were supposed to provide some care were absolutely useless - sy but they were.

from my point of view, some support, practical and emotional, during my fathers last days would have been a tremendous support. as it was, his care, both physical and emotional was left entirely to us.

good luck with your research and own personal journey.

a

I got NOWT. I get back up at GP's surgery and he lets me have Diazepam for anxiety. I think counselling should be automatic, as 'us blokes' are too thick or too proud to ask. [It's a Man thing]

Bill

I saw an NHS psychiatrist on the ward a couple of days after surgery, specifically to help me deal with the "adjustment reaction" to becoming partially sighted as a result of the surgery to the brain. I had monthly appointments, stopped for a while, then went back to deal with a 2nd adjustment to loss of memory due to radiotherapy.  I got the feeling you only got this kind of referral if there were specific indicators. I was at Southampton.

We invited the head of psychological services to our Cancer Services Users' Group, and he assured us that cancer patients had priority for access to psychological services, and would be seen within two weeks of referral. Such referral can be from GP, oncologist or CNS.

John