Remove the fear
Breast care nurses (BCNs) are highly valued by patients and play a key role throughout their treatment.
Research shows that the BCNs are crucial to the delivery of high quality care for breast cancer patients. Specialist nurses save the NHS money, by ensuring patients receive the most appropriate care, reducing hospital admissions and bed days.
BCNs provide essential services that would not otherwise be delivered by other healthcare professionals. These include providing advice and support on a number of issues related to a breast cancer diagnosis to both patients and their families.
Every patient should have appropriate access to a breast care nurse. We are concerned that specialist nursing posts may be cut or frozen in an attempt to reduce expenditure across the NHS.
We want to make sure that the BCN role is protected despite budget constraints in the NHS. We want the role of the BCN to be valued and recognised throughout the NHS and the Government to work with Breakthrough to commit to guidance on best practice for commissioning BCNs in the NHS.
