Care for patients dying from cancer varies across the NHS

The government has announced plans to recruit 70 additional consultants in palliative medicine and 162 specialist nurses across England.

It follows discussions with charities and NHS representatives on how an extra �50m earmarked for palliative care should be spent.

They were drafted in after criticism over the pace of reform.

The government announced plans to improve services for patients dying with cancer in September 2000.

Patients should see a difference. Dr Andrew Hoy, Association for Palliative Medicine

However, a report published earlier this year found that efforts to improve services got off to a very slow start.

It also revealed that money earmarked for cancer patients may have been spent elsewhere.

Extra money

Ministers asked Professor Mike Richards, the government's cancer tsar, to bring together voluntary and NHS representatives to decide where the money should be spent in future.

In addition to the extra NHS staff, they have decided that some of the extra money should go towards new Marie Curie nurses.

They will be expected to provide care to more patients to enable to spend their final days at home.

The group also backed proposals to create an extra 86 hospice beds in England and provide better training and support for nurses working in this area.

Health Secretary John Reid said the group's decisions means the money will be spent properly.

"The partnerships with the voluntary sector, which have helped with the distribution of this funding, know from first hand experience where they money is most needed and how it can be put to the best use.

"Providing the best possible care for people with cancer is not just about money, it is about using it in the right way to bring relief from pain and allowing people to keep their dignity while fighting the disease."

Better services

Eve Richardson, chief executive of the National Council for Hospital and Specialist Palliative Care Services which was involved in discussions, said patients would see improvements.

"This money will make a real difference for patients," she said.

Dr Andrew Hoy, chairman of the Association for Palliative Medicine, said it would take time to fill the extra posts.

But he added: "Patients should see a difference. Hopefully, in some parts of the country where there have not been consultants there will be one now."

At the moment, there are around 230 consultants in palliative care in England.

The Association of Palliative Medicine estimates that the number will need to double over the next 10 years.

The UK charity CancerBACUP welcomed the extra money.

"Money and a clear plan makes a real difference to cancer services." said Joanne Rule, its chief executive.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Evan Harris: "The key issue is that terminally ill patients across the country should, wherever possible, be able to die with dignity.