Guarantees for patients in Doncaster

Last week the Government announced three legally enforceable rights for patients in Doncaster. So by law if our local NHS Trust cannot meet the following three guarantees they will have to find you somewhere which can treat you as soon as possible. Even if it is in the private sector.

The three new rights are:

• A free health check every five years for those aged 40-74.

• Seeing a cancer specialist within 2 weeks if your GP suspects you may have cancer.

• All treatment, for any illness, should be within 18 weeks of GP referral.

Supporting these new rights Rosie said:

"The NHS is one of Britain's greatest achievements. A service that is available to all based on need - not ability to pay. From being on its knees in the mid 90s the NHS is now in better shape with more staff on the ground and new hospitals.

"We want to go even further than the guarantees announced this week. Our cancer pledge is to give people the legal right to get tested for cancer and get results within one week of seeing your GP. And we also want to bring in the right to see a GP at weekends or in the evening, and to abolish practice boundaries for good. I will be campaigning for these new rights to be bought in as soon as possible."

In addition, the Government is also consulting on the new rights which will be our ambition for the health service over the next few years, including:

• The right to diagnostic cancer tests and results within a week - our cancer pledge.

• The right to see a GP at weekends or in the evening, and the abolition of GP practice boundaries for good.