The APPG on Stem Cell Transplantation and Advanced Cellular Therapies launched a report No Patient Left Behind following an inquiry into barriers which patients face when accessing treatment and care.
Throughout the Inquiry, the APPG received insightful written evidence and oral evidence from patients and their family member as well as clinicians from across the UK, researchers and third sector colleagues.
This inquiry heard evidence that patients from a minority ethnic background will find it harder than patients from white Northern European backgrounds to find an optimum donor source for their stem cell transplant. We heard that patients may be thrown into financial hardship as a result of long recovery times from transplant. And we heard that patients from a minority ethnic background, poor socio-economic status and women are less likely to be involved in clinical trials.
This has painted a picture of barriers patients may face, which broadly fit into the following five themes:
- Socio-economic barriers
- Complex health systems, health literacy and education
- Cultural barriers
- Race, ethnicity and discrimination
- Geographical barriers
Based on the evidence the APPG received and through a review of existing literature, the report proposes nine recommendations. The recommendations are categorised into five areas for improvement, these are:
- Personalising care
- Supporting patients emotionally and financially
- Better demographic data capture
- Improving outcomes through research
- Investment in the stem cell register
The full Terms of Reference for the inquiry can be viewed here.