New technologies and rationing by post code/region. New treatments and assessments are not available to all UK citizens.

Its good news that we can embrace new technology, and quickly, but the decision raises other issues. Mainly to do with rationing honestly… Other new technologies will follow (Hope of cure for men with aggressive prostate cancer) but whilst there are 4 different health systems, and announcements only apply to one of them, we in Wales will wonder if we can afford what England can. Only this week a friend went to London for a new prostate cancer assessment test (mpMRI) which is not available in Wales. (Sign the petition on line) ( He went Privately) Assessment and staging of Prostate Cancer is essential, and there are far more sufferers than there are with leukaemia.

But can we afford these treatments without rationing the high volume and low cost treatments? How does such technology fit in with “personal health budgets”?

High Tech advances hit NHS funding. A proper debate wont happen however.

Interesting suggestion low cost for high volume treatments to be excluded… GPs will take no notice as their job is to put their patient “at the centre of their concern”.

World class cancer care (and Mental Health care) is possible, if we ration the high volume low cost treatments…

The cost of high tech treatments – that if these become “universal” then the low cost high volume treatments need to be paid for.

Trials of personal budgets will have long term perverse outcomes in an ageing society. Health costs are rising, and geographic variations will become greater….

Wales ‘behind’ in technology to detect prostate cancer – BBC News

Prostate Cancer breakthrough with a more accurate test (Scotland)

PET scans for prostate cancer (Birmingham)