A NEW system that is allowing more cancer patients to receive treatment at their local hospitals has been praised by experts.

The electronic prescribing system gives patients across the West of Scotland access to tailored chemotherapy close to home. The treatment is prescribed for them by specialists at the Beatson Centre.

Experts say the system also offers significant advantages over written prescriptions in terms of ensuring patient safety.

Special built-in safety features help prevent dosage errors and patient prescription details can be accessed at all hospital sites at any time of the day.

The Chemotherapy Electronic Prescribing and Administration System (CEPAS) will be discussed at an event this week involving 90 cancer experts. The event is to celebrate achievements to-date in cancer research and treatment.

Cancer experts will also look at the impact of Scotland's national bowel-screening programme on death rates.

A study, funded the Scottish Government's health department, found bowel screening reduced the number of deaths from bowel cancer by 27%.

The study looked at the health outcomes for people who had been sent special home testing kits.

David Dunlop, Clinical Director of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, said: "This event is the first of its kind in the West of Scotland and it will be a wonderful opportunity to look back and reflect on the significant strides forward that have been achieved in cancer care.

"We will examine the impact of new technologies and treatments and collaborative ways of working and also look forward to the developments the are coming over the horizon."

"One key success which has had a significant impact in streamlining care for patients has been the implementation of the CEPAS system.

"CEPAS is already making great strides forward in the way that cancer prescribing is being streamlined to provide a seamless, safe and patient focused prescribing model."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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