Vital communications between NHS clinicians and incurably-ill patients remains poor – and risks
getting worse
Andrew McDonald, who is living with incurable prostate cancer, tells personal story as Marie Curie
Cancer Care launches new campaign to ensure patient’s voices are heard.
In a speech to be delivered on Tuesday evening, Andrew McDonald, formerly the CEO of the
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), will give a stern critique of the way people
with incurable diseases – and in particular cancer – are handled by the NHS.
McDonald, who was forced to step down in April because of the effects of incurable prostate cancer
and of Parkinson's disease, will focus on the way clinicians discuss bad news with their patients. He
will warn that the problem risks getting worse as funding pressures on the NHS increase, with the
already inadequate training in communication skills having been cut back.
In his speech, McDonald will say: “The technical care I have received for my cancer has been
excellent. But, taken as a whole, the quality of conversations I have had with clinicians have all too
often been disappointing, with too little emphasis placed on emotional well-being.
“I do not claim to have all the answers to solving this deep-seated problem, but I am clear that my
experience is one shared by many incurably-ill people in the NHS.
“This is a problem which the NHS has been trying to crack for decades now. We need to be clear on
two things. First, the evidence is overwhelming that the quality of conversations with clinicians
matter enormously to patients. Second, the obstacles to improving those conversations seem to be
peculiarly difficult to overcome. Why is that? Is it a lack of leadership by clinicians? Is this issue
simply not taken seriously enough? We need to start by having a proper, robust discussion of the
causes of the problem.”
McDonald will point to three possible solutions: more effective leadership by clinicians of their
teams; a more prominent role for nurse practitioners to help their patients navigate through the
system; and greater continuity of care so that individuals are better able to develop a relationship of
trust and understanding with their doctors.
Dr Jane Collins, CEO of Marie Curie, adds:
“Andrew is pointing us to an issue of fundamental importance to patients. That's why we are going
to launch our “What About Me” campaign on 30th June.
“Its objective is simple: to focus the attention of all clinicians on the needs of their patients. And so
we were going to begin by asking individuals what they want from their clinicians. And then we will
work with our partners – including patients and their families – to formulate robust solutions. We
will never achieve personalised care unless we have richer clearer conversations between clinicians
and their patients.”
-ENDSNotes to editors
1. The speech takes place at 7pm on Tuesday 24 June at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly. To attend, please
contact Ben Wicks, Media & PR Manager 020 7599 7713 / 07734 967 444. To follow the
conversation use the hashtag #AboutMe.
2. Andrew McDonald is available for interview both prior to and after the lecture. To arrange this,
contact Ben Wicks.
3. Andrew McDonald was the founding CEO of IPSA, serving in the role from 2009 to April 2014. He
now writes and lectures.
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the leading charity providing care to people with any terminal illness in their own
homes or in one of its nine hospices. The charity is also a leader in research into the best ways of
caring for people with a terminal illness. In addition to this the charity designs and advises on end of
life services and works to ensure that the best possible care and patient choice is at the heart of
commissioning end of life care across the UK. All Marie Curie services are completely free of charge.
Around 70% of the charity’s income comes from donations with the balance of funds coming from
the NHS.
For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
Like us at www.facebook.com/mariecurieuk
Follow us on www.twitter.com/mariecurieuk